Improvements to Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme

On 14 August 2024, the New Zealand Government announced several key improvements to the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. These changes are designed to better support the needs of the horticulture and viticulture industries while ensuring improved conditions for seasonal workers.

Increase in RSE cap

The RSE cap will be increased to 20,750 workers for the 2024-2025 season, up from 19,500. This increase is aimed at addressing the projected growth in industries such as wine and kiwifruit exports. The cap adjustment also ensures that labour needs are balanced with the availability of accommodation for workers.

More information about this increase can be found on the Beehive website.

Worker protections and benefits

Several enhancements will be implemented from 2 September 2024 to improve conditions for RSE workers:

• Guaranteed work hours: employers must ensure RSE workers receive an average of 30 hours of work per week over a four-week period.
• Multi-entry visas: RSE workers will now be eligible for multi-entry visas, allowing them to leave and return to New Zealand during the season. This provides flexibility for personal situations, such as attending funerals.
• Removal of HIV screening: HIV testing will no longer be a requirement for RSE workers, aligning this visa category with broader New Zealand health policy changes.
• Accommodation changes: the previous pause on accommodation cost increases will be lifted, permitting modest rent increases that are reasonable and verifiable. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will continue working on longer-term solutions for determining fair accommodation costs.

More details about these changes can be found on the Immigration New Zealand website.

Increased flexibility for employment

Greater flexibility will be provided for RSE workers to move between employers and regions. The grace period for such transitions will be extended from 14 to 21 days, giving workers more time to adjust to new roles or locations. This increased mobility is intended to ensure that workers can continue employment smoothly within the sector.

Expansion to include Timor-Leste

Another significant change is the inclusion of Timor-Leste in the RSE scheme. While Timor-Leste will be added to the list of participating countries, further work is required to establish the infrastructure needed for recruitment. Once this is in place, employers will be able to hire RSE workers from Timor-Leste.

These adjustments reflect the New Zealand Government’s commitment to supporting both the seasonal workforce and the industries reliant on this labour source. Further information on these updates can be found on the official Immigration New Zealand website.

For further information or specific guidance on how these updates may affect businesses or visa applications, Arno Nothnagel, our Director of New Zealand Immigration, can be contacted at arno.nothnagel@absoluteimmigration.com