A new report investigating the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) policy on this side of the Tasman scheme has identified financial benefits for Pacific Island countries -- but also highlights many social costs, the ABC reported.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is expected to make an announcement about a guest workers scheme at the Pacific Islands Forum in Nuie in August.
The new Australian government has maintained that it would base it's decision on the success or otherwise of the New Zealand seasonal workers scheme.
Nic Maclellan, the report's author said there were significant social costs associated with committing to such a programme that need to be addressed.
"Temporary workers from overseas -- they often don't know of their full legal rights in the country, and there's a danger in industries like tourism, fruit picking, construction that are largely casualised workplaces, with low union coverage, that overseas workers would be exploited."