Media Releases
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fiji
High Commissioner Waqabaca Urges Fijian RSE Workers to be the best Employees Under Scheme
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| Fiji’s High Commissioner in New Zealand Mr Filimone Waqabaca during this week’s meeting with the Fijians working under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work Scheme at Rod Fry Ltd and Heywood Orchards in Nelson, New Zealand |
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Fiji’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Mr Filimone Waqabaca whilst on a weeklong visit this week to Nelson, Blenheim and Napier held meetings with the Fijian seasonal workers deployed under the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work Scheme.
The meeting with the Fijian Seasonal Workers and their employers has been undertaken as part of the ongoing monitoring and evaluation exercise by the Fiji High Commission in New Zealand in association with the Fiji Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations.
While having discussions with the group of Fijian seasonal workers at Rod Fry Ltd and Heywood Orchards in Nelson, Mr. Waqabaca said the increase in the number of Fijian workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme directly benefits the development of communities in Fiji.
“We’ve grown from about 30 workers a few years ago to almost 400 now with everyone taking home over $10,000 New Zealand dollars on average at the end of the seven-month contract. That’s a lot of money for people who go back to their villages in Lau, Namosi, Ra and other provinces.
“I hear great stories about you building your houses, setting up small businesses and sending your kids to more prominent schools,” Mr. Waqabaca said.
The Fijian seasonal workers in Nelson have been involved in picking and packaging of apples and kiwifruit orchards.
Mr. Waqabaca thanked the Fijian seasonal workers for their positive work and reassured them of the continued support during their tenure as Fijian seasonal workers in New Zealand. Mr. Waqabaca also expressed appreciation to the RSE employers for their remarkable support in making this initiative a success.
Mr. Waqabaca also spoke on the significance of the RSE which, has been established through enhanced partnership between the Fijian Government and the New Zealand Government.
“We understand the uncertainty that employers are facing with the economic downturn but there is a win-win situation for New Zealand and Fiji if we maintain the recruitment or even increase the numbers,” Mr. Waqabaca said.
One of the Fijian workers of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work Scheme in New Zealand, Cabelala Vakaloloma said that his total earnings over the past two years in New Zealand have helped him to finish building his house in Ogea, Lau.
“I’ve earned twenty-four thousand Fiji dollars and this has really helped me and my family. I now want to become a driver, so I can do other things on the farm and earn extra income on the farm. I really appreciate this opportunity. I have enjoyed my working period in New Zealand so far. I would urge others that come under this scheme in the near future to really work hard because we have a lot to benefit from, and also since there are many other Pacific nationalities under the RSE Scheme.”
Fiji joined the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work Scheme in 2015 with currently 364 Fijians working under RSE in New Zealand.
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Several members of Public Accounts Committee of the Fijian Parliament visiting Wellington this week took advantage of a visit to the Wellington City Council’s Southern Landfill yesterday to glean a few ideas for waste management in Fiji. This included the Hon. Alexander O’Connor, Assistant Minister for Health, Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, Opposition parliamentarian and Ms. Priya Chand, Parliamentary Secretary who were accompanied by the Fiji High Commission New Zealand staff.
The Southern landfill is an impressive setup particularly as it focuses on recycling and minimising the damage to the environment at the landfill.
Other remarkable features of the landfill were its gas collection, electricity regeneration, green waste mulching and water table management. The Hon. O’Connor, an engineer by profession, was particularly impressed and intends to develop a few ideas for the Fijian Government to consider.
The PAC members were invited to attend the Pacific PAC training seminar in Wellington facilitated by UNDP from the 12th to the 13th December.
The PAC members, including Deputy Chair, Hon. Mohammed Dean, MP, were hosted to afternoon tea at the Fiji Chancery. It was an opportunity for the Parliamentarians to meet the Locally Engaged Staff at the Mission and also update the staff on the work and concerns of the Public A
