The Seasonal Workers Programme (SWP) will start in January next year.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuoabola is expected to sign the relevant memorandum of understanding (MOU) with New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully on November 22.

Ratu Inoke told the Fiji Sun: “I hope to sign the MOU with the NZ Foreign Minister McCully on Saturday, 22nd November and the first lot will go to New Zealand in January 2015.”

Because of the change in government in December 2006, New Zealand excluded Fiji from its Recognised Seasonal Employee policy and NZ employers were unable to source seasonal labourers from here. Fiji workers were also excluded from this same programme in Australia.

However, Ratu Inoke said both countries had lifted this sanction after the successful September general elections.

In her recent to Fiji, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop invited Fiji to join its seasonal workers programme.
Ratu Inoke said he was hopeful to sign a MOU with Australia as well.

“The MOU is still being worked on and it will be signed as soon as it is ready. Hopefully it will also start in Jan 2015.”

When signed, this document would establish a commitment by the governments of Australia and Fiji to establish and maintain labour sending and receiving arrangements under the Seasonal Worker Programme that will deliver benefits to the citizens of Fiji and assist Australian employers to meet their seasonal demand for labour.

Once these steps are completed, the Fijian Government will provide advice about how Fijian citizens can apply to participate in the Seasonal Workers Programme.

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