New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE) cap will see an increment of 1,250, elevating the total permissible number of foreign seasonal workers to 20,750 for the 2024/25 period. This adjustment is in response to industry group pressures and recommendations from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
The government has also introduced several changes affecting foreign seasonal workers and their employers. Notably, RSE workers will be issued multiple-entry visas, facilitating their mobility in and out of New Zealand within the season. Additionally, the previous requirement for HIV screening for RSE workers has been removed.
Employers are now mandated to compensate seasonal workers for a minimum average of 30 hours per week over a four-week span. Furthermore, RSE workers returning for their third or subsequent seasons are entitled to receive wages at least ten percent higher than the minimum wage. In a significant policy shift, the government plans to extend the RSE Scheme to include workers from Timor Leste, a move previously restricted under the scheme's regulations. These amendments are slated for implementation on September 2, 2024.
Source: visaguide.world