Seasonal labour
Summerfruit NZ, as part of a wider horticulture and wine sector group, has been engaging with government agencies with an aim to ensure sufficient labour is available for our seasonal needs. Unfortunately we are making slower than necessary progress, in particular not helped by the election being pushed out, and the Auckland lockdown which has extended the wage subsidy and created uncertainty about the reality of unemployment for New Zealanders.
The issue of Kiwi unemployment is hindering decision-making about non-Kiwi workers who we know will be a key part of our seasonal workforce. The situation serves as a reminder that we will have to make progress in hiring unemployed New Zealanders, and that remains a key part of our workplan. The main parts of this work are working with MSD on outreach (website and material for MSD offices), and looking at ways to remove barriers to people moving for seasonal work. Significant progress is also being made on the refreshed Work the Seasons website.
Due to the lack of timely progress with agencies, the horticulture and wine sectors have collectively written to the Prime Minister and relevant ministers about the necessity for seasonal workers from all corners of the possible workforce, including migrants, to ensure we can make our best possible contribution to New Zealand’s export-led economic recovery in the short seasonal window available. My concern, reiterated in speaking with growers, is that labour decisions will be too late for us to get on to producing a top quality crop, eg thinning. Hence we are pushing our message to the highest levels to get urgent decisions.
In the meantime, we encourage growers to think broadly about attracting seasonal workers: certainty of employment; accommodation; and transport, to provide opportunity for a different group of workers than we have had previously. Local options for accommodation will be important, homestay or bed and breakfast, with neighbours, friends and family. We are also involved in working on large-scale transport options for Central Otago.
Save the Date – 10 October
The Central Otago and Queenstown Councils are preparing a jobs expo in Queenstown on 10 October to pair the 10,000 people looking for work from Queenstown/Wanaka/Cromwell through to Dunedin with industries crying out for workers.
RSE Workers
With repatriation options having slowed recently, many RSE workers are now considering staying through to the end of next season. Immigration New Zealand has confirmed that workers visas will be extended by six months (for visas expiring between 18 August and 31 December 2020) so they can stay through, if they do not want to go home.