Recognised Seasonal Employer

Tonga

Arrangements for a New Zealand employer who holds Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) status and an Agreement to Recruit

Key Contact in Tonga

Sione Maumau
Deputy Secretary (Labour Division)
Ministry of Labour and Commerce Industries
PO Box 110
Nuku’alofa
TONGA
Tel: 00676 23365 [Direct] or 23688 [Operator]
Fax: 00678 23887
Email: msionem@mlci.gov.to

General Information

Geography: Consists of five main island groups; Ha'apai, Eua, Niuas, Tongatapu, Vava'u. An archipelago of 169 islands of which 36 are inhabited. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.

Capital: Nuku’alofa

Population: 110,810 (July 2006 est.)

Languages: Tongan, English

Economy: Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total exports

What assistance does Tonga provide?

Recruitment

There are two recruitment options RSEs can choose from:

Option A

Tonga has a work ready pool of Tongan citizens that you can select from. The Ministry would prefer RSEs to recruit from the work ready pool made up of individuals who have passed a pre-selection and screening process.

The pool has been established based on pre-selection and screening by village and community committees, district and town offices. These individuals will undertake a final screening process with the Ministry to ensure there are no travel restrictions.

RSEs are encouraged to contact the Ministry with a list of their requirements.

The Ministry will present a list of suitable candidates for RSEs to travel to interview or to make recruitment decisions. The Ministry can make arrangements for candidates to be interviewed.

Once the selection has been made, RSEs will need to provide signed employment agreements to confirm the job offer.

Option B

If RSEs engage an agent or someone locally, they must inform the key contact of who that person is and who is recruited.

Work Visa Application & Processing

Once an individual receives an offer of employment from the RSE and obtains other immigration documentation, they can then submit a work visa to work for an RSE application form to Immigration New Zealand in Nuku’alofa. At the time of submission, the application (form, fee and photo) must be fully completed attached with all documentation requirements (i.e. Employment Agreement, Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificate).

Pre-Departure Orientation

Individuals selected from the work ready pool will attend a seminar before their departure to New Zealand covering matters such as climate, clothing and footwear requirements, taxation, insurance (particularly health insurance), health and wellbeing, accident compensation, banking and remitting, budget advice and travel arrangements. These seminars will be delivered by the Ministry in Tonga with input from Immigration New Zealand. Workers will receive a pre-departure booklet to assist them while in New Zealand.

Pastoral Care

RSEs are responsible for the pastoral care of workers as set out in the RSE Work Policy. Tongan workers will benefit from the full protection of New Zealand employment and workplace legislation, in particular legislation concerning healthy and safe conditions of work. Should any concerns arise during the term of employment, RSEs and workers can approach Department of Labour staff as well as key contact where workers were recruited through the work ready pool.

Compliance

The Ministry will emphasis to workers at pre-departure seminars the importance of compliance and the public consequences of any overstaying, displaying a good work ethic and protecting Tonga’s reputation as a source of seasonal labour. Similar to pastoral care, RSEs are responsible for ensuring that workers comply with immigration requirements and return home before the expiry of their permit.