New Zealand Declares Relaxation for Overseas Workers

As per the latest update from the New Zealand job market, the jobless rate figures forced the immigration department to make certain changes in their rules. The government is targeting more overseas workers to fill the labour market shortage. As a result, there are some relaxation and extensions have been announced by the government.

The Proposed Changes by New Zealand Immigration

According to the New Zealand government, the listed below changes have been made by them.

• Most importantly, the changes have been made for those visa holders who are qualified for working holiday maker visas.
• As per the proposed changes, the government has doubled the Working Holiday Visa Scheme for the year 2022 – 2023.
• The government is looking to invite an extra 12000 Working Holiday Visa makers to enter New Zealand.
• Moreover, those candidates whose visas are expiring between 26 August 2022 and 31 May 2023 will now eligible to get an extension of six months. The extension will support the visa holders to keep their work going.
• On the other side, the offshore workers will get more time to travel to reach New Zealand.
• In addition, the government has also benefited those candidates who previously held a Working Holiday Visa but did not travel to New Zealand due to the Wuhan COVID-19 virus pandemic.
• These candidates will get another opportunity to enter New Zealand. They will get the new visas from October 2022. This new visa allowed the candidates to enter New Zealand by 31 January 2023. This amendment allows such candidates to stay in New Zealand for 12 months at least.
• The government has made changes in the wage rules for skilled migrants. This wage change will be applicable in the sectors such as care for the aged, construction & infrastructure, meat processing, seafood, and adventure tourism.

Statement by the Immigration Minister

Along with the changes, the immigration minister of New Zealand Mr. Michael Wood said “We are also doubling the capped Working Holiday Schemes, with a one-off increase, to recognise the spots that were unused last year due to the border closure. This will give the ability for up to an extra 12,000 working holidaymakers to be able to enter and work in New Zealand over the next 12 months. These changes will have a positive impact on the workforce, and will make the most of the increase in working holiday makers we expect to welcome during the peak summer season.”

The minister also added “As the world recovers from COVID-19, labour shortages continue to be a persistent ongoing global symptom. Our immigration rebalance was designed during the pandemic and included the flexibility to respond to scenarios, such as the global labour shortage we now face. These measures are about providing immediate relief to those businesses hardest hit by the global worker shortage.”

Mr. Wood said, “We have listened to the concerns of these sectors, and worked with them to take practicable steps to unlock additional labour, we know these measures will help fill skills gaps, as businesses work towards more productive and resilient ways of operating.”

Purpose of Changes

One of the premium purposes of the recent changes is a huge labour shortage in the New Zealand job market. The government is looking to fill the gap and that is why the changes have been announced.

The immigration minister also clarifies the purpose in his recent statement that stated – “The measures also include providing median wage exemptions to crucial sectors through sector agreements, temporarily doubling numbers under the Working Holiday Scheme, and extending visas to retain labour already in the country.”

Reason of Changes

• As per the latest financial, economical, and job market relevant statistics, the jobless rate stayed at 3.3% in the second quarter of the year.
• The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has also made a significant move and lifted the official cash rate by 50 basis points to 3.0% in a seventh straight hike to rein in inflation.
• Moreover, the New Zealand government has pushed up the wages for the workers as part of the global trend.
• To fight the challenge of inflation the central bank raised the interest rate a few days back. This hike is the highest since September 2015.

Source: “https://www.livemint.com/news/world/new-zealand-relaxes-immigration-rules-visa-extension-special-scheme-limit-hike-11661152586244.html“