By Angela Singer
“ Seasonal workers being exploited, says church”, “ Church concerned at worker ‘exploitation’” and “ Questions raised about vine workers’ pay”. These were just a few of the headlines generated when the Presbyterian Church raised its voice against worker exploitation; specifically exploitation of Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme Ni-Vanuatu workers in New Zealand.
Seasonal Ni-Vanuatu workers in Blenheim worshipping at the Rev Ken Williams’ Wairau Parish church told Ken about their pay and conditions and he took the matter to a lawyer.
At the same time, then-Moderator the Right Rev Pamela Tankersley and GMO mission advisor the Rev Andrew Bell were in Vanuatu, and the leadership of the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu expressed concerns about the RSE scheme to them.
Parishes throughout the country told Pamela they had also heard complaints of exploitation, but none had documentary proof.
A public statement could only be made when Ken’s lawyer obtained documentation of an illegal petrol deduction from the pay of the Marlborough-based Ni-Vanuatu workers. After several phone calls from Assembly Office communications to the Department of Labour, the Department confirmed that they would investigate the illegal deduction, and in late July the Church issued a press release.
Pamela told the media: “The Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu has expressed concern about the treatment of Ni-Vanuatu RSE workers in New Zealand. They asked that the Church support their people as part of our partnership in mission. We do this willingly, but we believe that the employers have an obligation to treat their Ni-Vanuatu employees fairly in both pay and conditions. The care our Church offers the workers is a gift to friends, not part of an employment package.”
Many interviews with Pamela in newspapers and on radio followed, and Ken appeared on TV3’s “Campbell Live” with his church’s courageous Ni-Vanuatu workers, who had been threatened with dismissal if they spoke out. Appearing on the same “Campbell Live” show, Minister for Labour Trevor Mallard said he would have his department look into the claims.
In response, the Department recently recommended changes to the RSE scheme. But Ken says more needs to be done. “The Department of Labour’s investigation and suggested changes to the scheme do not guarantee justice for all current and future RSE scheme workers. As Christians, we will continue to speak out on this issue, and we will continue to support the Ni-Vanuatu people”.
Ken’s support for the Ni-Vanuatu people will soon be taken further when he moves with his family to take up a two-year teaching position at Vanuatu’s Talua Ministry Training Centre.