Agreeing to voluntary pay deductions when you work on an RSE visa

If you are a seasonal worker on an RSE Limited Visa you can give your employer permission to deduct money from your pay to cover costs, such as:

Costs can include:

• your share of the cost of travelling to New Zealand
• living expenses such as accommodation, food and electricity
• health costs and insurance.

Your employer may also ask you to set up an automatic payment to repay these costs instead of deducting them from your pay.

Your employer can only make deductions, or ask you to set up an automatic payment, if:

• you have given written consent for the deductions, or any change to how expenses are repaid (such as an automatic payment) without pressure from your employer
• they are clearly listed in your employment agreement
• we approved them when your employer submitted their Approval to Recruit
• they are fair and reasonable, and used to cover actual expenses — for example, a deduction for accommodation covers the actual cost of your employer providing a suitable place for you to live.

Withdrawing permission

You can withdraw by giving your employer notice in writing.

Your employer must vary or stop the deductions within 2 weeks of getting notice from you, or as soon as it is practical to make the changes.