The government’s review of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme is underway and there are only a few days left to provide feedback.

Three papers outlining proposals have been released and several grower meetings and webinars have taken place.

The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has carried out targeted consultation with stakeholders during mid-March to mid-April 2023.

The RSE policy review started in 2019 but was delayed due to Covid-19. 

In late 2022, the Minister of Immigration agreed to the objectives, scope, and timeframes for a full review of the RSE scheme.

The policy review has a twofold objective: sustainable administrative system settings and an improved set of policies and guidelines which protect the RSE worker and enable them to have a positive experience on the scheme.

Feedback is invited through in-person consultation sessions or webinars, and via [email protected]. Written submissions are requested by 12pm, Monday April 24, 2023.

Access the options for consultation here.

After this consultation policy recommendations will be made which are scheduled to go to Cabinet in June 2023. 

The RSE scheme has enabled employers in the horticulture and viticulture sector to recruit an annually capped number of seasonal workers from eligible Pacific Island countries to plant, maintain, harvest, or pack crops.. 

When it started in 2007 there were a few thousand RSE workers annually, last year the cap was increased to 19,000 nationally.