The government will allow the entry of 2,000 Pacific fruit pickers, but with a living wage

Two thousand workers from the Pacific will arrive in New Zealand early next year to collect fruit for the horticulture and wine industries.

His arrival is expected to fill a huge gap in the workforce and avoid what many producers have been calling a crisis.

But there are government conditions for the deal.

Employers will have to pay workers a living wage of $ 22.10 an hour, pay them 30 hours a week while in managed isolation for 14 days, and cover their costs of isolation, estimated at $ 4,472 per worker.

The agreement was announced this morning by the Minister of Immigration, Kris Faafoi, and the Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor.

Horticulture NZ CEO Mike Chapman welcomed it but warned of potential labor shortages for the 2021 spring and 2022 harvest seasons.

“While the timing of the government’s decision means that spring and early summer crops have been lost, growers across the country are relieved that some of the essential workers needed from low-risk Pacific countries Covid are coming in, “Chapman said.

Workers will be granted a border exception as Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers and will fly between mid-January and March. Staggered arrivals aim to continue to have MIQ slots for returning kiwis.

Where the workers fly from has yet to be determined, but to qualify, the country needs an agreed plan to bring back all of its CSR workers, not just those in the 2,000-person cohort, when the 2020/21 season ends.

Horticulture and wine exports totaled $ 6.5 billion in the last financial year, and the sector employed some 38,300 New Zealanders, mostly in the regions.

But producers have been crying out for more workers. There are typically around 14,400 CSR workers a year, but the pandemic and border restrictions have cut that workforce in half.

Meanwhile, the number of unemployed rose by 37,000, a total of 151,000, in the September quarter amid concerns that mature crops would rot in the ground.

This morning the government also announced incentives for Kiwis to work in the sector, including up to $ 200 in weekly accommodation support for those who move to another region for this job and continue to have accommodation costs at home.

In the middle of a contract lasting at least six weeks, Kiwi workers will also receive $ 500 from the government, as well as another $ 500 after completing the contract.

O’Connor said that industries were also expected to make this job more attractive to Kiwis by tackling issues such as transportation, accommodation, pay and training.

He added that employers were also aware that workers were expected to be treated well and fully employed.

There are around 6000 CSR workers from last year who were allowed to stay and work this season, while those with Working Holiday visas that expire between October 2020 and March 2021 have been invited to the SSE (Supplementary Seasonal Employment) scheme. to work in the sectors. .

Out of 12,300 people with Working Holiday visas, 1,300 have been transferred to SSE.

Those with current visitor, student and work visas can also apply for an SSE visa if they have a job offer from an eligible employer, or if the job is listed as required with the Ministry of Social Development.

“And to streamline the application process, the government is eliminating the requirements for police and medical checks for these visa applications,” Faafoi said.

Border exceptions are only granted when there is a critical labor shortage that the Kiwis cannot fill.

So far exemptions have been granted for 30 veterinarians, 570 deep sea fishing crews, many of whom were from Russia and Ukraine and were quarantined for more than 14 days due to a series of infections: 210 agricultural mobile plant operators, 250 PhDs and postgraduate students, 100 people with “essential” reasons to travel through New Zealand to the Pacific, 2,770 critical healthcare workers and 60 shearers.

The CSR deal means some other border waivers are expected to be granted until April.