12. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (National—Rodney) Link to this
to the Minister of Immigration
Will he give an assurance that foreign workers in New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer policy will enjoy the same conditions as New Zealand workers?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Immigration) Link to this
All workers in New Zealand, regardless of nationality or citizenship, are subject to New Zealand employment and industrial legislation, including the Employment Relations Act, the Holidays Act, the Minimum Wage Act, and so on. Relevant immigration policies, including the Recognised Seasonal Employer policy, are designed to support and respect that.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why should Kiwi workers have to pay for their own accommodation and their own transport to and from work, and organise their own pastoral care, while foreign workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme have, in addition to their wages, their accommodation provided and paid for, transport to and from work provided if required, pastoral care provided, and half their air fare paid?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
In the first place, the member should check his facts. Nothing in the Recognised Seasonal Employer policy requires employers to pay for the accommodation of their foreign workers.
Dr Ashraf ChoudharyHon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Yes, I have seen a report in the Marlborough Express of 20 July 2007 in which a senior National Party politician implies that backpackers will no longer be available for seasonal labour in Marlborough. This politician has leapt in before he has acquainted himself with the facts of the policy. Last year more than 33,000 backpackers were approved to visit New Zealand under the working holidays scheme—a scheme that was, is, and always was proposed to continue. The comment is yet more evidence that that politician, Mr John Key, was either uninformed or dissembling.
Peter BrownNoting the Minister’s answer to the principal question, is he aware that many of these seasonal workers will not readily understand New Zealand’s employment law; if so, does he have confidence in the Department of Labour to monitor the situation, and can he briefly advise the House what penalties will apply to any employer who exploits these people?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
The answer is yes, and for that reason a suitable induction programme has been proposed as part of the scheme that ensures that workers are aware of their rights in New Zealand. [ Interruption] That may be one of the points that the member opposite disagrees with, but I think it is a prudent step in order to ensure the sustainability and quality of this labour supply.
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Yes. I have seen a press release by Horticulture New Zealand, dated 30 April 2007, in which the president, Andrew Fenton, was said to be “delighted to bring to life a programme designed by horticulture and viticulture employers”.
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Yes, this week. Now that Mr John Key knows that horticulturalists support the scheme, is he going to flip-flop on this one, too?
Craig FossWill the Minister apologise to horticultural industry leaders for walking out of a meeting with those same representatives when they asked him to discuss their concerns about the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme and the ending of the Seasonal Work Permit scheme?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I certainly will not, because that did not occur. I suggest to the member that, like his two senior colleagues, he should check his facts before putting his mouth in gear.
Will the Minister apologise to the growers from Hawke’s Bay at a Recognised Seasonal Employer meeting organised by the Government who were told by various Government officials that it was their fault for planting the trees in the first place?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Based on the rather dismal track record of the member opposite so far in this question in terms of his command of the facts, I have no reason to believe the veracity of the presumption.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Is that appalling track record on consultation the reason why the Pipfruit New Zealand chairman, Ian Palmer, stated in this month’s edition of Rural News that the situation is “becoming a major fiasco. The horticulture industry has tried to work in good faith with Ministers Benson-Pope and Cunliffe, with little or no response. They just do not want to hear our concerns …”?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I suggest the member check with the leaders of Horticulture New Zealand and New Zealand Winegrowers, who were in my office this week, and who are working very productively with officials on a transition package to support the Recognised Seasonal Employer programme. I can tell the member that those discussions are going extremely well, the industry supports the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme, and the only people with the pip are Opposition members.
I seek leave to table an article from the Press of 2 August, entitled “Government admits flaws on Labour policy”.
Madam SPEAKERI seek leave to table an article on the Stuff website from New Zealand Winegrowers entitled “Government departments have no idea how a business operates”.
I seek leave to table a press release from Horticulture New Zealand, dated 1 August, that includes the quote: “Unless we”—
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I seek leave to table an article from the Marlborough Express, dated 20 July 2007, entitled “Key slams employment scheme”.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
I seek leave to table the current edition of Rural News, which quotes the chairman of Pipfruit New Zealand—
I seek leave to table a note, which confirms that I was at the Havelock North meeting where growers were told it was their fault for growing the trees.