'Not here for a holiday': What standards RSE workers should expect

Accommodation for seasonal rural workers should prioritize affordability over quality to maximize wages, according to a university professor specializing in migration. However, a union warns that some housing falls short of acceptable standards, particularly in barracks-style accommodations during winter. Police have identified unsafe and unreasonable accommodation as significant risks within the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) system.

The government recently announced changes to the RSE scheme, aiming to improve conditions for workers recruited from Asia and the Pacific. The government may also introduce migrant exploitation visas to enable workers to leave abusive employers. The accommodation aspect remains a primary concern for workers, as they come to New Zealand to earn money, not to enjoy a holiday.

About 200 employers utilize Pacific and Asian RSE workers, and about 4300 fruit and vegetable growers employ these workers. Minimizing accommodation costs is a top priority for both employers and workers, who spend approximately seven months in New Zealand. Building temporary accommodation for a workforce that stays for half a year or slightly over poses a considerable challenge.

Exemplary employers could benefit from six-year accreditation periods, and workers can apply for migrant exploitation visas to escape abusive employers. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) report highlighted blacklisting of workers who file complaints and wage deductions concerns as major issues. Both the government and employers aim to ensure reasonable wage deductions, which is part of an ongoing employment case in the Hawkes Bay, whose outcome is expected soon.