• deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz
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    2 days ago

    So, here in NZ we have a lot of seasonal workers; e.g. fruit pickers.

    Their pay still need to meet the legislated minima. They usually then ‘sacrifice’ a chunk of that part for accommodation.

    These jobs are by (a) majority staffed by temporary workers from the Pacific Islands. The pay and seasonality is unattractive for domestic workers but excellent for the temporary workers from the Pacific Islands compared to their domestic pay rates.

    So, we’re kind of doing good to support our poorer neighbours in the Pacific? But at the same time we’re exploiting them to suppress the wages they’d have to pay for staffing domestically?

    I mean, pay everyone better. Duh. Wine and kiwi fruit are among our most valuable exports and the industry pays the bare minimum it can.