11. Question No. 11—ImmigrationDr ANAE NERU LEAVASA (Labour—Takanini) to the Minister of ImmigrationQuestion No. 11—Immigration11. Dr ANAE NERU LEAVASA (Labour—Takanini) to the Minister of Immigration: Talofa Mr Speaker. What changes has he announced to the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme?Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Immigration): Yesterday I announced that the next steps in the Government's response to global workforce shortages include providing 3000 additional places for the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme for the coming year. The new RSE cap will allow access to 19000 workers annually from participating Pacific countries providing critical support to our horticulture and wine sectors. We've listened to feedback from workers and industries about the scheme and have worked closely with them to ensure that we strike the right balance of incentivising local employment bringing in additional workers and requiring improvements to working conditions.Dr Anae Neru Leavasa: What has been different in the approach taken to setting the RSE cap this year?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: This year for the very first time the RSE cap was sent through a robust tripartite process involving unions representing RSE workers and employers from the horticulture and viticulture sectors. By working together to agree on key areas for improvements to the RSE scheme this approach has added assurance to our decision to increase the cap and helped us to chart a way forward for ongoing tripartite engagement and improvement to working conditions. I want to thank the unions involved including the Council of Trade Unions FIRST and AWUNZ and members of the industry including Horticulture New Zealand Wine New Zealand and Apples & Pears for engaging so constructively.Dr Anae Neru Leavasa: How will RSE workers' rights be improved under the scheme as a result of the cap increase?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Well the rights of RSE workers are a priority for our Government and we've worked closely with the industry and unions to get their support to make improvements across five key areas as part of the cap increase. This includes improved benefits for RSE workers particularly relating to sick leave and deduction for things like travel and wet weather gear; accommodation standards in housing; transparent information in their own languages for RSE workers about what support is available; improved management and oversight of poor RSE employers; and independent support for RSE workers to assist them.Dr Anae Neru Leavasa: What reactions has he seen to his announcement about the RSE scheme?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: I've seen a range of very positive reactions welcoming the announcement. Business New Zealand welcome the Government's announcement of another 3000 places for seasonal workers to help ease workforce pressure". FIRST Union's general secretary Dennis Maga said "The sick leave entitlement was long overdue." And finally Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Nadine Tunley said "This decision gives growers confidence to continue to invest as they go into the 2022-23 harvest season."Dr Anae Neru Leavasa: What are the next steps to progress improvements to the RSE scheme?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: In the coming weeks the Government will continue to consult and work with the industry and unions on further short-term improvements and employee safeguards to provide greater protection to workers. This will build on our wider first-principles view of the RSE scheme which as I previously signalled will commence in early 2023."