Vanuatu Department of Labour Employment Services Unit

1. Vanuatu Department of Labour Employment Services Unit

3. Work Ready Vanuatu (WRV) is a foundation member of the Australian PSWPS (Pacific Seasonal Work Pilot Scheme) and New Zealand RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employer) Scheme. • Employers can qualify to recruit Ni-Vanuatu for seasonal work in their orchards, pack houses and vineyards. • WRV is the most popular provider of workers into the New Zealand scheme and is making good progress in the Australian scheme. • You should seriously consider meeting your seasonal workforce requirements with a team of hard-working, willing and capable WRV seasonal workers.

4. Vanuatu seasonal workers are highly praised among employers for • their excellent work attitudes • their willingness to work hard • their flexibility when it comes to performing a variety of tasks • Picking, pruning, sorting and other more technical operations. • Ni-Vanuatu are team workers who work under a recognised team leader and work well with others. • Their communication skills are good. • They like to learn new tasks and master them quickly. • You’ll enjoy having Vanuatu workers on your site as they are friendly, outgoing people who enjoy their work and create a positive and happy atmosphere wherever they go.

5. Ni-Vanuatu are typically physically strong, fit people of medium build. • Usually not as tall as their Polynesian cousins • Known for being agile and athletic (very important if your business requires a range of capabilities over and above just physical lifting and carrying) • Employers find that they are very flexible and adapt quickly to new tasks. • Returnee employees develop very high skill levels in a variety of tasks • Are excellent to get back year after year.

6. Employers find that Vanuatu seasonal workers are fit and motivated people • Prepared to work on a variety of tasks • Consistently productive ie able to put in extended periods of good quality output with minimal interruptions. • Whether you require picking or packing or pruning or any other of the hundreds of tasks on your site • Ni-Vanuatu get “stuck in”, adapt quickly and perform to a high standard very quickly • Much more productive than other traditional itinerant workers eg backpackers.

7. Employers sometimes find that some itinerant workers can’t be relied upon to always do good quality work in all situations. • In contrast with that, WRV has a reputation that extends right across the horticulture and viticulture mix as a provider of talented, agile and dexterous workers. • They are known for working productively with grapes, berries, kiwifruit, asparagus, citrus and stone fruit • They are highly regarded for working quickly and efficiently as well as taking very good care of the fruit, vines, plants and equipment.

8. Many Ni-Vanuatu are fluent in a number of languages • Including their own national language Bislama, as well as English, which is commonly used as well as their own local dialect. • They are enthusiastic to learn and are generally regarded as resourceful people. • Employers typically find that they cope well with the general literacy and numeracy requirements on an orchard or in a packhouse.

9. Ni-Vanuatu have a reputation as friendly, Christian, communal people who are loyal to their work colleagues and employers. • The Vanuatu Government and its agents aim to approve candidates based on a number of criteria with respect to health and good character. • The recommended practice of recruiting workers from an area under an experienced leader where possible also ensures a higher degree of social cohesion for the employer.

10. Ni-Vanuatu who sign up for the seasonal worker programme do so with a set of clear goals. • Workers are typically leaving their families and communities for a number of months so that they can save money towards an important goal such as • building a new home • starting a small business • funding their children’s education • or something for their community • Employers have commented on this high degree of motivation as being a real asset for Vanuatu seasonal workers

11. Given Vanuatu’s proximity to Australia and New Zealand… • And the variety of airlines servicing Vanuatu… • It is relatively affordable to visit Vanuatu yourself and to transport workers from Vanuatu. • Visiting the village where your workers come from can be a lot of fun and gives you a great footing on which to start your relationship. • It will give you insight into Vanuatu communal and village culture and assist you to maximise the value of your relationship with your workers.

12. Seasonal Workers can be recruited via a number of methods. • Once you have registered with the relevant government body in your home country you can either… • Source your workers through an approved employer ie they recruit and contract to you • Recruit through an ESU-approved agent in Vanuatu • Become an Approved Employer and then recruit directly. • This is an excellent option once you have established some good relationships in Vanuatu.

13. “I’m Interested in Finding Out More about Work Ready Vanuatu. What do I do Now?” • If you are already approved to employ seasonal workers within the RSE or PSWPS then you should contact: Vanuatu Dept of Labour Employment Services Unit Name: Tarisu Kailes and Christine Wabaiat Email:  tkailes@vanuatu.gov.vu or christinew@dol.gov.vu Phone numbers +678 22610 or +678 29937 Or visit www.workreadyvanuatu.com • If you still need to register with your home country then you should contact the Vanuatu DOL just to register your interest in finding out more • And contact your home country responsible government body

14. Contact: New Zealand Dept of Labour RSE Unit PO Box 3705 Wellington Email rseinfo@dol.govt.nzor phone +64 4 915 4400      Or visit http://www.dol.govt.nz/initiatives/strategy/rse/index.asp New Zealand High Commission Vanuatu: Telephone: +678 22 933 Facsimile: +678 22 518 Email: kiwi@vanuatu.com.vu

16. Contact: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme Information Line on +61 2 6240 5234 email seasonal.worker@deewr.gov.au or visit http://www.deewr.gov.au/PSWPS You will be guided through the process from start to finish and you’ll soon be welcoming your first group of Vanuatu Seasonal Workers onto your site.