Tuesday, 01 July 2014 16:30

Labour policy penalises growing businesses: HortNZ

Written by 

LABOUR'S JUST announced immigration policy will heavily penalise growing businesses say New Zealand's horticulture and viticulture industry organisations.

Instead of paying overseas workers the same as local workers, this policy would require employers to pay overseas workers more than local workers, doing the same work.

The policy will also require New Zealand employers involved in the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme to pay for overseas workers' accommodation, rather than just arrange accommodation.

RSE employers are already required to prove there are no suitable local workers available to do the work before they are given approval to bring in limited numbers of workers from the Pacific.

"We just can't understand why those employers who find it difficult to find local employees should be further penalised.

"The horticulture and viticulture industries are continuing to grow despite the high NZ dollar and in the face of strong competition globally. We need more people. And we can't get them all in New Zealand," says Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Peter Silcock.

Our industries are growing, creating permanent and seasonal jobs for locals, but there are simply not enough suitable New Zealand workers available to meet the peak seasonal work requirements, he says.

"This is not a well thought out policy. Pricing immigrant labour higher than local labour just does not make sense.

"We are not sure what has driven this change, because we know workers from the Pacific and their governments have been very happy with the scheme," Silcock says.

It allows returning workers to contribute to many community projects and has increased the skills of the workers, for the benefit of the workers, their families and their communities.

More like this

Food security crucial

Hort NZ chair Barry O'Neil says food supply and security is fundamental to New Zealand's future.

How hort fared in 2023

For the country's horticultural sector, it's been a year that started off with the worst weather imaginable. It also had plenty of drama and intrigue and ended up with us getting a new tri-party government that has collectively promised to fix everything! Peter Burke reports.

Editorial: Time for change

OPINION: With election day only a few days away and advance voting well underway, there appears to be a mood for change in rural and provincial New Zealand.

Optimism grows

HorticultureNZ chair Barry O'Neil believes the mood in the sector is more positive than it's been all year.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Why?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter