Pacific door inches open
2000 fruit pickers allowed in — with living wage proviso
Growers . . . are relieved that some of the essential workers needed from low Covid-risk Pacific countries are being let in. Mike Chapman, Horticulture NZ chief
Two thousand workers from the Pacific will come to New Zealand early next year to pick fruit for the horticulture and wine industries. Their arrival is hoped to cover a huge hole in the labour force and avert what many growers have been calling a crisis.
News of the deal comes as the visiting Pakistan cricket team in isolation in Christchurch have been issued a “final warning” after six players tested positive for Covid-19.
Two of these six results have been deemed “historical” while four are considered new cases.
The Ministry of Health said several team members had been seen on CCTV at their hotel breaching managed isolation rules, despite “clear, consistent and detailed communication of expected behaviours while in the facility”.
New Zealand Cricket said the team’s exemption to train while in isolation had been suspended while investigations continued.
Before the team left Pakistan, all squad members returned negative results from four tests. Pakistan are due to play the Black Caps in three T20s and two test matches, starting on December 20.
The workforce deal announced yesterday requires employers to pay the workers a living wage of $22.10 an hour, pay them 30 hours’ a week while they’re in managed isolation for 14 days, and cover their isolation costs — estimated at $4472 a worker.
Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced the deal.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Mike Chapman welcomed it but warned about possible labour shortages for the spring 2021 and harvest 2022 seasons.
“While the timing of the Government’s decision means that spring and early summer crops have missed out, growers across the country are relieved that some of the essential workers needed from low Covid-risk Pacific countries are being let in,” Chapman said.
The workers will be granted a border exception as recognised seasonal employer (RSE) workers, and will fly in between mid-January and March. The staggered arrivals are aimed at continuing to have managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) spaces for returning Kiwis.
Where the workers fly in from is still to be determined but, to qualify, Pacific nations involved need an agreed plan to take back all of their RSE workers — not just those in the 2000-strong cohort — when the 2020/21 season ends.
Horticulture and wine exports were worth $6.5 billion in the past
financial year, with the sector employing about 38,300 New Zealanders, mainly in the regions.
But growers have been crying out for more workers. There are normally about 14,400 RSE workers a year, but the pandemic and border restrictions have cut that workforce in half..
Yesterday morning the Government also announced incentives for Kiwis to work in the sector, including up to $200 in weekly accommodation support for those who move regions and continue to have accommodation costs at home.
Halfway through a contract that’s at least six weeks long, Kiwi workers will also receive $500 from the Government, as well as a further $500 after completing the contract.
O’Connor said the industries were also expected to make this work more attractive to Kiwis by addressing issues such as transport, accommodation, pay and training.
There are about 6000 RSE workers from last year who have been allowed to stay and work this season, while those with working holiday visas expiring between October 2020 and March 2021 have been invited to work in the sectors.
Of 12,300 people with such working holiday visas, 1300 have been transferred to SSE.
Border exceptions are granted only where there are critical labour shortages that can’t be filled by Kiwis.
So far exceptions have been granted for 30 veterinarians, 570 deep water fishing crew — many of whom were from Russia and Ukraine and were in quarantine for longer than 14 days due to a flurry of infections — 210 agricultural mobile plant operators, 250 PhD and postgraduate students, 100 people with “essential” reasons to travel through New Zealand to the Pacific, 2770 critical health workers, and 60 shearers.
The RSE deal means that few other border exceptions are expected to be granted until April.
Yesterday there was one confirmed case in managed isolation of Covid-19 in New Zealand. The case arrived on 14 November from the UK via the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. They tested positive at routine testing around day 12 in managed isolation and have been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility. The Ministry of Health has been working closely with Air New Zealand after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19 in Shanghai.
Results of genome sequencing show that the lineage of this infection indicates international exposure is most likely. The crew returned from Shanghai on a cargo-only flight on Wednesday morning and the crew are being isolated and tested. The case is counted in China’s tally.