BY TABERANNANG KORAUABA

THERE HAVE BEEN strong positives for the Pacific from the New Zealand seasonal labour scheme that has involved more than 7,000 Pacific people since it was introduced by a Labour government in 2007.

The scheme was a response to New Zealand’s need for seasonal labour and it has also met the employment needs of island countries.

New Zealand employers decide where and who to recruit in the Pacific island countries, but the NZ Labour Department regularly visits employers and workers as part of an audit program.

Some countries – such as Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu – had worker numbers increased remarkably this year. This was a result of both the marketing by regional governments and growing understanding and friendship between New Zealand employers and the community.

There have been only 72 ‘over-stayers’ since RSE was introduced four years ago.

Delly Bagu, a journalist from Papua New Guinea, the country with the largest population in the Pacific, was surprised to see that there was only six workers from PNG in the scheme. Bagu said there was no agreement between New Zealand and PNG.

Taberannang Korauaba is a Masters in Communication Studies student at AUT University and editor of the Kiribati Independent.

Photo: Pacific seasonal workers in New Zealand

Source: Pacific Scoop, 5 September
http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2011/09/nz-seasonal-labour-scheme-touted-as-success-for-pacific/?ScoopSrc=scoop_pacific