Fiji’s Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh, has met with New Zealand’s Minister for Immigration, Michael Wood to discuss the Labour Inspection Program to ensure the rights of Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers is well safeguarded.
Singh and his team from the Ministry are visiting seasonal employers and Fiji workers in New Zealand who are employed under the scheme.
He highlighted that deliberations focused on housing and accommodation issues for Fijian workers and this was discussed at length with the Kiwi counterparts.
Singh said they further discussed the best outcome for the RSE program at the technical level, and this includes the possibility of workers’ contributions towards their local FNPF deductions.
Fiji’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, also accompanied the Fiji delegation, comprised of the Acting Permanent Secretary for Employment, Atish Kumar; the Director of National Employment Centre, Lui Mario; and the Director of Corporate Services, Samuela Moce.
Since the inception of the RSE scheme in 2015, more than 600 Fiji workers have been deployed under the program and this number is intended to grow in the near future.
