Over 1000 seasonal workers have been stuck in New Zealand after the cancellation of Air Vanuatu flights.
On May 10, the Vanuatu government confirmed the country’s national carrier had been placed into voluntary administration, stranding many travellers with upcoming flights.
Those stranded included seasonal workers in New Zealand, causing a “nightmare” for both employers and employees with ongoing financial, visa and work issues relating to their prolonged stay.
Speaking to Breakfast, NZ Ethical Employers chief executive Tanya Pouwhare said about 1400 seasonal workers were initially stuck in New Zealand after the abrupt flight cancellations.
But after airlines such as Solomon Airlines and Air Fiji honoured some tickets, Pouwhare said the number of workers still in New Zealand would soon be down to about 100.
“This has been a big impact over the last four weeks, and right through the country,” said Pouwhare.
She added the unexpected costs included extra flights, which may have been booked on multiple carriers following the closure of Air Vanuatu.
Workers stuck at both ends of the route
"That cost is around about $150 per worker but, with the employers who employ tens to hundreds, that’s looking like just over half-a-million dollars of extra money they are having to pay out for air flights just on those ones we can’t get home.
"For the ones stuck in Vanuatu that can’t get out, we’ve also got disruption around the internal flights, for example [Espiritu Santo] to Port Vila, there is no option.
"At the moment, Immigration New Zealand has provided a one month extension to those that are stuck in New Zealand, and are also giving an extension to those who are coming to New Zealand to allow them to come into New Zealand at a later date."
Pouwhare said Immigration New Zealand has provided extensions to visas both for workers stuck here and Vanuatu.
However, she added for the workers stuck in New Zealand, the visa needed another individual employment agreement, which required employers to continue to accommodate them, along with providing pastoral care as well as provide work.
"These employers are having to stump up — it’s a lot."
On the impact on his business in Marlborough, Focus Labour Solutions’ Brendon Cocoran told Breakfast the financial burdens were "massive".
"One thing we tend to do is when we bring our staff in, we pay for and plan all their departures.
"So we’ve lost all that money, we’re not going to be recovering it. But it’s also the stress and frustration around trying to find new flights and trying to get these people home.
"They’re just trying to get home to their families."
Cocoran explained some of the workers stranded in New Zealand were also locked down in the country during Covid-19, meaning this has happened before for many of them, and is causing "huge stress".
"I’m getting asked constantly, daily, by each staff member, asking what’s happening, 'when are we going home'."
"Not being able to give them those answers is very hard."
Immigration NZ responds
INZ national manager Pacific Loua Ward said the organisation is in "regular contact with RSE employers" and is monitoring the developing situation closely alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
"We are ensuring RSE workers from Vanuatu with visas expiring can remain in New Zealand lawfully, and employers with workers from Vanuatu are also supported," she said in a statement.
Ward said there were 1458 RSE workers from Vanuatu with visas expiring by June 9, 2024.
"We granted RSE limited visas of up to one month to workers from Vanuatu currently in New Zealand with visas expiring to ensure that they can stay in the country lawfully.
"These RSE limited visas will start from the expiry of the current visa and align with medical insurance end dates."
To date, Ward said 845 RSE workers had returned home and 601 others had flights booked while 10 RSE workers had yet to secure flights home.
The visa entry dates for Vanuatu-based workers who are still to travel to New Zealand have also been extended by one month.
"RSE Employers continue their provision of accommodation and pastoral care until the workers depart New Zealand, and are doing a fabulous job identifying solutions for workers to return home as soon as possible."
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