Net Returns for Seasonal Workers Based on a Limited Department of Labour (DOL) Audit of Wages, Hours and Costs/Deductions

Abstract

Do workers financially gain by coming to New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) policy? This question among others attracted wide attention when the policy completed one year since implementation. Given that workers from the kick Start Pacific states work in a range of work settings, the Department of Labour undertook a sample audit of RSE employers during mid-2008. The audit was considered a cost-effective method to provide reliable estimates of what workers potentially earned and their likely net returns after costs and deductions. The results showed that on average workers had a net return of around NZ$6,000. This is early indicative evidence and note that the audit primarily covered a part of the year when the weather and work availability was more settled.