Glen Towbah has worked eleven asparagus seasons and goes on to pick apples. The RSE scheme allows them to stay up to seven months in New Zealand over an 11-month period Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
Some employers in New Zealand who are part of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme want changes, because of the cost.
This is the assessment from Australian National University researcher, Charlotte Bedford, who said support for the scheme remains high, but there are some elements within it the employers would like to see changed.
The employers have raised concerns about the loading on top of the minimum wage they are obliged to pay, restrictions on rents and having to guarantee 30 hours of work a week each week.
The number of workers coming in, for both the New Zealand and Australian schemes is also down.
RNZ Pacific's Don Wiseman asked Charlotte Bedford, who is with the Development Policy Centre at the ANU, whether the shine was going off the seasonal schemes.
