Agreement to Recruit requirements for Recognised Seasonal Employers
If you are a Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) you must agree to specific requirements when you apply for an Agreement to Recruit (ATR).
As an employer of
Applying for an ATR
When you sign your ATR application you agree to:
- keep your RSE status up to date
- provide a copy of the employment agreement you will offer RSE workers
- provide a completed Joint Agreement Deduction Check form to the Labour Inspectorate as part of any
(the sends the form to the main employer to complete).
Minimum requirements for RSE worker employment agreements
Agreeing to site visits and contact with other agencies
When you sign your ATR application you agree to:
- the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment visiting your site to decide on your application or monitor compliance
- Immigration New Zealand contacting government organisations, unions, agencies and industry bodies to confirm your compliance with employment, health and safety, and immigration laws.
Recruiting RSE workers
When you sign your ATR application you agree to:
- try to recruit New Zealanders for any positions before hiring from overseas
- list your available positions with Work and Income before applying for an ATR
- only use recruitment agents who will not charge your RSE worker
- support your RSE workers' visa applications
- ensure any contractor working with your RSE workers has good workplace practices
- ensure your RSE workers have full-time work while in New Zealand on their RSE Limited Visa, either with you or in a joint ATR.
Supporting a worker's Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa application
Providing pastoral care and accommodation
When you sign your ATR application you agree to:
- set up a support package ready for when your RSE workers arrive — this is called 'pastoral care'
- arrange suitable accommodation for the RSE workers — check if restrictions apply to you because of the region you are in
- give us details, if we ask, of any payments to you from RSE workers (including payments for airfares, accommodation, and other pastoral care).
Providing pastoral care and accommodation for RSE workers
Agreeing to voluntary pay deductions when you work on an RSE visa
RSE worker suspensions, departures and repatriation costs
When you sign your ATR application you agree to:
- tell us as soon as possible if you suspend or dismiss an RSE worker
- pay any repatriation costs, which you agreed to in your signed letter of guarantee
- let us know the expected departure dates for your RSE workers once you have booked outward flights for them
- if a worker is from Kiribati or Tuvalu, pay for the worker's return airfares between New Zealand and their Nadi (Fiji) and transport them to the airport.