【新西兰华人每日资讯网 7月31日报道】

新西兰政府宣布改革认可季节性雇主计划（Recognised Seasonal Employer，RSE），通过简化管理流程、提高透明度和加强劳工保护，使该计划更符合当前农业和园艺产业需求。

移民部长 Erica Stanford 表示，RSE计划运行近20年来，在解决园艺和葡萄酒行业季节性劳动力短缺方面发挥重要作用，同时为太平洋岛国工人提供就业和培训机会。

目前，每年约有：

• 1.7万名RSE工人 来新西兰工作；
• 207家认可雇主 参与该计划。

政府指出，新西兰园艺和葡萄酒行业出口规模已从2007年的约25亿纽元增长至如今接近 90亿纽元，RSE计划对此发挥了重要支持作用。

不过，随着制度发展，部分规定变得复杂，增加了企业和工人的管理负担。因此，政府将推出多项改革措施，包括：

• 建立分级雇主认证制度，根据雇主过往表现提供不同管理要求；
• 在保障权益前提下，增加RSE工人在不同雇主之间转换工作的灵活性；
• 明确雇主可向工人收取的合理费用，如交通、保险和住宿费用。

政府表示，新制度将在减少企业行政负担的同时，确保新西兰本地工人就业优先，并继续保护海外季节性劳工权益。

此外，政府还将与行业和太平洋伙伴合作，更新RSE住宿标准，加强员工关怀服务。未来规定中将加入互联网接入要求，帮助工人与家乡亲属保持联系。

改革计划将从2027年初开始分阶段实施，预计持续至2029年完成。

编辑点评：

RSE计划是新西兰农业出口产业的重要劳动力来源。此次改革试图在企业用工需求、太平洋劳工权益和本地就业保护之间寻找平衡。随着园艺和农业出口持续增长，稳定、透明的季节性劳工制度将对新西兰经济保持竞争力发挥重要作用。

（来源：New Zealand Government / Immigration portfolio）

The Government is modernising the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, making it simpler and clearer to use while maintaining protections for workers and opportunities for New Zealanders.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says the changes recognise the important role the RSE scheme plays, while responding to clear feedback that it has become too complex.

“The RSE scheme has been a standout success for nearly 20 years, helping meet seasonal labour needs in our horticulture and viticulture industries while providing opportunities for work and training for Pacific workers and supporting their communities,” Ms Stanford says. 

“This win-win approach with our Pacific partners has been critical in meeting peak demand from New Zealand’s horticulture and viticulture sectors, which have seen annual export growth from $2.5 billion in 2007 to nearly $9 billion today.

Each year around 17,000 RSE workers come to New Zealand working for 207 number recognised employers.

“But over time the scheme has become more complicated and, in some areas, unnecessarily burdensome. We are making practical changes to simplify requirements, improve clarity and transparency, and strengthen protections for workers.”

Key changes include a graduated accreditation system that recognises employers with a strong track record and more flexibility for workers to move between RSE employers in appropriate circumstances with additional safeguard for workers.  

The changes will also introduce clearer rules on the genuine costs employers can recover from workers (such as transport, insurance and accommodation), giving workers and employers greater certainly about what costs can be recovered and how. 

“These changes will help employers focus on their core operations, provide greater certainty for workers and employers, and maintain safeguards that ensure New Zealanders are prioritised for available jobs.”

Ms Stanford said work was also underway with industry and Pacific partners to update accommodation standards and strengthen pastoral care settings for RSE workers.

“We are supporting industry-led initiatives that promote best-practice pastoral care. Providing access to the internet will also be added to the prescribed standards, ensuring workers can stay connected with their families back home.

“Accommodation standards remain a priority for both industry and Pacific partners. Consultation on options for change is currently underway with Pacific partners and employers, and I expect to take decisions by the end of September.

The changes will be introduced in stages beginning in early 2027 through to 2029. 

“These reforms will help ensure the RSE scheme remains fit for purpose, supporting Pacific workers, New Zealand employers and the horticulture and viticulture sectors for years to come.”