Fiji’s Minister for employment Hon. Agni Deo Singh meets New Zealand leaders to strengthen labor mobility ties

The Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Hon. Agni Deo Singh, undertook an official visit to Wellington yesterday where he met with New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, at the Parliament Complex.

The Minister was accompanied by Acting Permanent Secretary Mr. Atish Kumar, Manager of Foreign Employment Services Ms. Gaayetri Prasad, and senior officials from the Ministry of Employment. Officials from New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) also participated in the engagements.

Hon. Singh and his delegation were earlier received at the Wellington Airport by Chargé d’Affaires of the Fiji High Commission in Wellington, Mr. Josua Tuwere, who accompanied them to all scheduled meetings throughout the day.

In discussions with Rt. Hon. Winston Peters and later with New Zealand’s Minister for Immigration, Hon. Erica Stanford, the delegation addressed matters of mutual interest—foremost among them the welfare of Fijian workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. The discussions explored how to more effectively manage the continued growth and participation of Fijian nationals in the programme, which currently employs close to a thousand Fijians across New Zealand.

Following the Wellington visit, Hon. Singh departed for Hawke’s Bay where he is scheduled to meet with Fijian RSE workers on-site. They had previously visited RSE workers in Tauranga earlier in the week.

The visit from 4th to 10th May 2025 reflects the Fiji and New Zealand Governments commitment to strengthening labour mobility partnerships and safeguarding the interests and wellbeing of Fijian workers abroad.