27 Sep 2022

Immigration Minister details RSE numbers, conditions boost

From Checkpoint, 5:16 pm on 27 September 2022

The government is letting in another 3,000 RSE workers, to bring relief to the horticulture sector.

It's a 19 percent increase on the previous season, and means there's now access to 19,000 workers a year from Pacific countries. That's an increase of 3000 workers.

The Immigration Minister Michael Wood says the increase acknowledges the industry's need for workers. Just last month, the minister announced a full review into the RSE scheme - after the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner witnessed conditions she described as modern day slavery.

Michael Wood says today's deal gives the workers more entitlements.