Health and safety

Seasonal Workers · Know your rights

Farm and factory work has real risks. You have the right to be safe.

What you should get

• PALM: if you are unwell, injured or unsafe — in an emergency call 000, get medical help, and contact the PALM support service (1800 51 51 31) or your Country Liaison Officer.
• PALM: employers must appoint a welfare and wellbeing officer to support workers.
• RSE: your employer must arrange your medical insurance and tell you what it covers.
• RSE: if you have an accident you can apply through your doctor to ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation). Tell your employer as soon as you are injured, or ACC might not cover you.

Check for

• You know who your welfare officer or pastoral care contact is
• You have been shown the safety rules for your job

What you can do

• Report injuries the same day and keep a note of who you told.

Sources: PALM — Help for workers · PALM — Worker support · Immigration NZ — Your rights as an RSE worker

This card is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by country. Information checked 2 October 2026. For help, see piowr.org/seasonal-workers and piowr.org/tools/find-help.

Pacific Institute of Workplace Relations · Fair Conditions At Work · piowr.org