Foundations laid for RSE Policy [1]
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - 08:57. Updated on Monday, July 20, 2015 - 16:09.
The foundations of the new Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) policy were put in place today (April 23), for five Pacific states. Department of Labour Deputy Secretary Mary Anne Thompson said.
"In order to kick-start the RSE policy, New Zealand is assisting government agencies in Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu to put special measures in place to prepare Pacific workers coming to New Zealand, and arrange pastoral care upon their arrival.
"Today, the Department of Labour signed Inter-Agency Understandings with representatives from the five Pacific states to formalise these agreed processes.
"The Understandings differ for each of the five countries, reflecting each country's individual needs. They outline agreed measures around:
Recruitment, including Pacific states' processes for pre-selection and screening of workers or regulation of agents; Pre-departure briefings for workers; Pastoral care for workers in New Zealand; and Compliance with New Zealand immigration and employment legislation.
"These arrangements can give employers confidence to recruit from these nations because they know what arrangements exist and that they have been developed with an aim to ensure the scheme's success.
"The Department of Labour will be working with Pacific government agencies from each of the five countries to put these processes in place. This will happen in the first few months after the policy opens on 30 April.
"The Understandings demonstrate the commitment of Pacific states to the principles behind the RSE policy - upskilling Pacific workers while ensuring pastoral care and rigorous health and safety and employment standards.
"The signing of the Understandings reflects a lot of work over the past few months, and I am confident the measures they outline lay a solid groundwork for implementing the policy," she said.
Employers will be able to apply to the Department of Labour to recruit workers from the Pacific after the RSE policy opens on April 30. Department of Labour, 23/04/07.