Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner on RSE expansions

From Midday Report, 12:42 pm on 28 September 2022

Advocates for seasonal workers want to see the horticulture and viticulture industries held to account for any mistreatment of workers.

The government has increased the quota of workers allowed under the RSE scheme by 3000 from next month.

In July this year, an investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity commissioner found RSE workers were exploited, bonded to unreasonable debts, living in slum-like conditions and denied religious and cultural freedoms.

It found fundamental human rights were being breached and some of it warrants criminal investigation.

The commissioner Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo spoke with Māni Dunlop.