New sector agreements with the meat processing and seafood industries will be put in place later this year to help develop their workforces, says the government.
The hospitality industry says changes to migrant worker settings will be a welcome relief for businesses struggling to fill vacancies as the country’s border restrictions ease.
The Employment Court has found three former Gloriavale commune members on the West Coast were employees not volunteers at the registered charity which has F&B ventures.
Unemployment has remained at a record low of 3.2% for the March 2022 quarter, according to Stats NZ’s latest employment figures.
The workers will support NZ’s hospitality, horticultural and tourism sectors, says Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi.
Workers at Seeka have written to the company to seek assurances during bargaining for a new collective agreement that there will be no wage reductions at the end of the harvest in June.
Hawke’s Bay iwi-owned Takitimu Seafoods has started a restructure consultation process which could see its headcount reduce from 70 workers to 25 after falling to a $6.9m loss in its 2020-21 year.
Under-pressure meat processors are among business that will benefit from an increase in the class border exceptions and caps.
Supply chain challenges were one of the reasons behind a record number of job vacancies in the first quarter of the year according to analysis from Trade Me Jobs.
The government has updated guidance to businesses now that most workplaces will not require vaccine mandates from 4 April.
The re-opening of New Zealand’s borders could make it harder for employers to fill critical worker shortages as Kiwis head overseas, according to a new report which estimates a net outflow of 16,500 people as border opened.
A new initiative spearheaded by the Primary Industry Capability Alliance aims to grow more workplaces in the food and fibre sector.
The government’s Fair Pay Agreements Bill has been Criticised by Retail NZ who said it would drive up consumer costs if implemented.
New Zealand companies are seeing an acceleration of ‘career waka jumping,’ according to the 2021/22 Beyond Recruitment Economic & Labour Report.
Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated says the sector is desperate to attract overseas backpackers to come over and pick fruit this season.
But it’s no ‘silver bullet’ for industries struggling to cope with labour shortages.
The isolation period for Covid-19 cases and household contacts will go down to seven days from 10 at 11.59pm on Friday 11 March.
Countdown employees working alongside Australian colleagues shipped in to fill gaps in New Zealand stores and supply chains should immediately receive pay parity and be remunerated at the significantly higher rates of their colleagues from across the ditch, First Union says.
Government guidelines on wage subsidies need to be clearer to protect small business owners including hospitality operators who are being fined for misinterpreting the rules.
A number of pop-up information sessions aiming to plug the fruit harvest labour shortage have kicked-off in Hastings.
Federated Farmers is relieved hundreds of extra international dairy workers can enter New Zealand this season.
Business and hospitality groups are pleased the government is ditching self-isolation requirements for returning New Zealanders.
Horticulture New Zealand says the government’s decision to boost the cap on the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme would benefit future picking seasons.
The government’s extended the cap on RSE workers for this season but warned there might be hurdles in getting enough people here to finish picking.
The business sector is critical of a move to raise the minimum wage 6% during the expected Omicron wave.
Industries will know by the end of this week which of them are considered critical, says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
While it opens for more workers, it comes too late for some and does not do enough to address labour shortages for others.
But they will still need to go into self-isolation, says Jacinda Ardern.
Labour shortages are the most pressing concern for the country’s primary sector but global prices should remain strong, according to ANZ’s latest Agri Focus report.
EMA won’t support the government’s proposed Income Insurance Scheme as it is, saying it would result in a further tax on businesses.
The Omicron wave about to wash over New Zealand will exacerbate an already tightening labour market.
The National Party says government inaction on border class exceptions for time-critical workers could have an impact on food production and distribution in New Zealand.
Mounting skills shortages and ongoing supply chain disruptions are among the key challenges for company directors, according to the Institute of Directors and ASB Bank’s annual survey.
Countdown distribution centre workers at two Auckland sites have signed a new agreement that includes a 5% wage rise for the next year and a 3.9% increase for a reduced 9-month term in the following year.
Domino’s is hoping a year’s worth of free pizza will help fill more than 1500 new part-time and full-time roles.
Zespri says the industry is now planning for a substantial labour shortage for the 2022 season.
The owner of Dunedin-based Romeeco Bakery has been ordered to pay $299,038 in arrears and penalties after a Labour Inspectorate investigation.
Silver Fern Farms and the New Zealand Meat Workers Union (NZMWU) have agreed an increase in the minimum hourly rate paid at the meat processor to $24 per hour – an increase of almost 10%.
Hospitality New Zealand has welcomed the Government’s move to extend Working Holiday and SSE work visas by six months to allow onshore migrants to help fill labour shortages over summer.
The government has extended working holiday and supplementary seasonal employment work visas by six months.
The 2021 Resident Visa could allow around 17,000 workers in the food and accommodation sectors to stay in NZ.
One-way, quarantine-free travel for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers from Vanuatu will be allowed from 4 October, says the government.
The details are yet to be finalised but government confirmation that quarantine-free travel will commence in October for workers from Vanuatu, Tonga and Samoa has provided a boost to growers.
F&B manufacturers are keen to get essential services staff vaccinated but it’s not easy, despite government encouragement.
The government is restarting childcare for workers in Alert Level 4 businesses and services, which was available during last year’s national lockdown, education minister Chris Hipkins has confirmed.
The Primary Production Committee is calling for public submissions on its inquiry into the future of the workforce needs in the primary industries of New Zealand.
Poultry company Ingham’s is introducing paid vaccination leave for its staff in New Zealand and Australia in an extension to its health and wellbeing benefits.
The Meat Industry Association has launched a campaign to help address the industry’s chronic shortage of employees – currently standing at around 2,000 people.
New Zealand’s closed border is putting additional strain on the country’s labour market with ASB warning the impacts could last several years.
Living wages, job security and local sourcing are the pillars of the initiative.
The horticulture and viticulture sectors are breathing a collective sigh of relief at the government’s decision to streamline the entry of seasonal workers from the Pacific.
The positions were needed to help meet global demand for the grower’s apples.
The Restaurant Association is expanding its training programme, Hospostart, after receiving further backing from the Ministry of Social Development.
Legislation doubling employees’ minimum sick leave entitlement to 10 days came into effect on Saturday 24 July.
Government changes to some essential skills visa will help ease some of the pressure on the red meat sector’s migrant workforce but a permanent solution is needed, according to the Meat MORE »
Changes to the essential skills visa will bring more certainty to accommodation and hospitality businesses struggling to fill vacancies, say industry groups.
Too many jobs are being created in the low-wage economy, says the finance minister.
The kiwifruit industry will need 24,000 seasonal workers in 2022, says New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc.
Former Sanford COO Greg Johansson will help conduct the inquiry.
BusinessNZ’s quarterly planning forecast shows the economy bounced back during the June quarter with GDP figures holding up well, although warned that constraints to growth are rising.
The Auckland Business Chamber has added its voice to calls for immediate action in opening the border to allow entry for key workers to support the primary exports, hospitality, accommodation, and tourism sectors.
The government has passed the Holidays (Increasing Sick Leave) Amendment Bill, doubling employees’ minimum sick leave entitlement to 10 days each year.
The pandemic has highlighted NZ’s reliance on temporary migrant labour, says the government.
Parliament’s Primary Production Committee has initiated a select committee inquiry into the future of the workforce needs in the country’s primary industries.
But there are concerns over the costs of the scheme for employers.
Sealord, Sanford, and Talleys have backed the regional recruitment drive urging individuals to ‘seas the opportunity’.
Cafe workers, fast food cooks and kitchen hands are now on the Government’s oversupply list for all regions except Queenstown Lakes and Mackenzie Districts.
The winners of the Good Employer Awards have been revealed.
Chief executive Julie White said the extension would help struggling businesses find trained staff.
Federated Farmers has asked the government to allow 500 skilled dairy staff into New Zealand.
The food giant plans to relocate its Wiri confectionery manufacturing to Australia.
An investigation in 2019 found breaches of minimum employment standards in relation to 24 workers.
The workers will be placed at orchards and vineyards in Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury and the upper South Island.
The Government has eased visa restrictions for visitors already in New Zealand as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to cause havoc overseas.
The Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust is taking applications for an associate board member to join its board of trustees. AGMARDT was an independent, not-for-profit charitable trust fostering MORE »
A cohort of Best Ugly Bagels staff is aiming to negotiate a collective employment agreement will calls going out for more workers to join E tū union. NZ chef Al MORE »
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