The Fiji Government has confirmed that there are no indications that New Zealand’s newly implemented seasonal visa arrangements will impact Fiji’s involvement in the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. This assurance follows reports from RNZ Pacific indicating that New Zealand has shifted its approach by discarding plans to introduce distinct worker pathways catering specifically to the meat and seafood processing sectors. Instead, the country has introduced two new seasonal visas: the Peak Seasonal Visa and the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa, effective from December 2025.
These new visa options allow migrant workers to be employed for up to seven months in various sectors, including forestry, dairy, meat, and seafood processing. Despite the introduction of these visas, concerns have been raised regarding increased costs, experience prerequisites, and potentially reduced access for Pacific workers in these industries.
In response to inquiries from FBC News, Maritino Nemani, Permanent Secretary for Employment, emphasized that the New Zealand Government has not communicated any adjustments to the RSE scheme that would affect Fiji. He reassured that Fiji continues to supply non-skilled workers to New Zealand as per employer requests, and that this recruitment process remains intact.
Nemani further addressed the concerns of Fijians currently employed in New Zealand under the scheme, as well as those registered with the National Employment Centre and awaiting placement. He reassured them that their positions and future opportunities remain secure, declaring that Fiji will keep fulfilling requests for workers under the RSE scheme, while also staying informed about any developments from New Zealand authorities.
Overall, this communication from the Fijian government provides a sense of stability amid the changes in New Zealand’s visa system, highlighting the ongoing commitment to maintaining workforce opportunities for Fijians abroad.