14 August 2022

Marlborough employers are angry and heartbroken that a small number of operators have violated the human rights of migrant horticulture workers.

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An investigation by Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo found that Pacific workers were facing economic exploitation and substandard living conditions when working in Marlborough.

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The RSE scheme was introduced in 2007 to provide economic assistance to the Pacific Islands while filling the need for seasonal workers in New Zealand.

Recognised by the World Bank as being one of the best migrant labour schemes in the world, it started with an annual cap of workers at 5000.

It has now more than tripled to 16,000, the scheme widening from three Pacific countries to nine.

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The Government had launched a wide-ranging review of the RSE scheme as part of its Pacific reset policy in 2018. One of the aims of the ongoing review was to ensure workers get a fair share of benefits.

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Business service AskYourTeam CEO and co-founder Chris O’Reilly said it was time for a sector wide approach for horticulture and agriculture.

“Our RSE scheme is at risk.

“We need to develop a due diligence system where every worker has a voice, and where bad practices and toxic pockets are identified, remedied, predicted, and prevented.

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