Returning Seasonal Workers Leave for NZ
These returning seasonal workers will be working for a period of seven months
Nineteen (19) seasonal workers from Ovalau Island returned to work for employers Bostock New Zealand and Vinepower Limited.
This is under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work Scheme in New Zealand. These returning seasonal workers will be working for a period of seven months.
During the first three months they will be engaged in apple picking with Bostock New Zealand in Hasting City, North Island.
They will complete the remaining four months with Vinepower Ltd in Bleinhem Town, South Island pruning vineyard field. The Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Osea Cawaru while closing the Pre-Departure Orientation earlier last week in Levuka, thanked the group for their commitment and dedication in building and maintaining good relationships with the employer and their co-workers. “Congratulations on your achievement and I also thank your individual families, the ‘Lotu’ and
‘Vanua’ for their support,” Mr Cawaru said.
“Without your commitment, the Government will not be able to fully roll-out this initiative in improving living standards for all Fijians. “You must set clear goals and work towards it. “Maintain your good work performance because this will open up more employment opportunities for other Fijians.”
Ovalau Team Leader Sitiveni Sovakowaqawai, who is also the Turaga-ni-Koro for Taviya Village of
Tikina Bureta said: “We are indeed so grateful with the employers for the opportunity given last year and again for putting their trust in us for another chance to work under the scheme this year.
“I also thank the Fijian Government for this employment opportunity and as an unemployed Fijian residing in the isolated rural community, to be employed for overseas employment is a dream come true.” To strengthen the commitment and dedication of the workers towards this Government initiative, the Pre-Departure Orientation was conducted with the presence of the
‘Vanua’, the ‘Lotu’ and spouses of the workers is the first for this initiative.
Through this, the ‘Vanua’ has shown their support and also assured that their workers will deliver as required by the Government of the day for the successful rollout of the seasonal work initiative. Mr Cawaru further highlighted that the Ministry was working towards having a Liaison Officer in New Zealand and Australia under the seasonal work scheme and programme to establish productive inter-stakeholder’s relationships with Fiji.
This will secure more employment opportunities for Fijian and at the same to market Fiji’s workforce to recognised seasonal employers as a source of reliable seasonal labour and ensuring the sustainability of the scheme and programme.
The Ministry was working towards having a Liaison Officer in New Zealand and Australia under the seasonal work scheme and programme to establish productive inter-stakeholder’s relationships with Fiji.