The New Zealand Seasonal workers scheme will be available to Fijians either after the elections or early next year.

Labour Minister Jone Usamate has just returned from New Zealand, discussing possible employment opportunities for Fijians.

New Zealand is offering the scheme to Fiji after a lapse of twenty seven years and as such, invited the Labour Minister over for discussions.

Usamate met with NZ government officials and potential employers.

“Workers in Fiji have a very good reputation in New Zealand. Alot of our people went there in the 60s and 70s and they created a very favourable impression. A lot of the employers in NZ that we talked to, they are really looking forward to people from Fiji.”

Those intending to apply for the scheme should be registered with the National Employment Centre and become part of the Foreign Employment Service.

“So it is the officials from our Foreign Employment Service that will liaise with the officers from the New Zealand and also with the employers.”

Usamate says the scheme will open up opportunities for Fijians in the agriculture and horticulture sector.