Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka calls for rethink of RSE scheme

The visiting Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is calling for a reconsideration of the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme.

He told a media conference in Wellington this morning that about 20,000 Fijians were on a wait-list for the scheme.

Rabuka says he wants to improve the Fijian labour market, instead of losing workers to other countries.

"We appreciate very much the opening doors of Australia and New Zealand for us to send our semi-skilled, but unfortunately recent trends have shown that we're losing some who are in the hospitality industry and the health professions."

The New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins acknowledged those concerns.

"New Zealand values our RSE workers but we also recognise that that is a scheme that's got to be of mutual benefit to both countries.

"We recognise that there is increasing anxiety among some of our Pacific partners in the RSE scheme around the loss of talent and the loss of skilled workers that they need domestically."

After their meeting, both prime ministers reaffirmed the strength and spirit of New Zealand and Fiji’s relationship.

Rabuka also thanked Chris Hipkins after New Zealand pledged to give a further $11.1 million to Fiji to respond to the impacts of climate change.​

"This additional funding from New Zealand is very welcome. It will support Fiji to implement discrete projects in renewable energy, infrastructure resilience, climate policy, and capacity strengthening,” said Rabuka.​

Rabuka was also asked at the media conference what else he could do to create a cohesive, more united Fiji.​

"​I can only do as much as I am able to do, and I will do my best. It is up to those domestic or local critics we have who are also naysayers in local politics, who still do not trust me."