1 week Ago By Joanna Hall
In December, the Government introduced a series of changes to New Zealand’s main work visa, the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), which are a step in the right direction towards a clear, consistent and smart immigration system. It’s critical our workforce has the skills the country needs - and immigration plays an important role in helping to overcome gaps and upskill our domestic workforce. Employers use migration, for the most part, as a last resort when they can’t find the right skills locally.
While unemployment has increased and more people are looking for work, it doesn’t mean that all the skill sets sought by businesses can be found onshore. That’s why the EMA advocates for an immigration system that can consistently provide the skills we need, working alongside an education sector which is responsive to the needs of industry. Our members also want more certainty in the rules which regulate the hiring of migrants, along with a reduction in the burden of compliance costs.
So, it’s good to see that many of the recent changes help to support these objectives. The more notable changes include:.
