Ministry expects to send about 100 workers to New Zealand

The Employment Ministry is expecting to send about 100 workers to New Zealand by April this year.

Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Jone Usamate is currently in New Zealand heading a government delegation on a week‑long tour visiting Fijian seasonal workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer Work Scheme and also to visit current and potential employers in New Zealand.

Usamate said that the purpose of this tour is to get feedback from Fijian workers, New Zealand employers and also to negotiate in increasing Fiji’s participation under the scheme.

He says Recognised Seasonal Employers began recruiting from Fiji in 2015 with only 31 workers and since then have increased their numbers.

Usamate adds that currently there are more than 10 employers employing Fijians under the Recognised Seasonal Employers  work scheme with more than 250 workers in New Zealand to date.

The delegation will also be visiting farms, packing‑houses, Fijian communities and officials from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in New Zealand.