This week saw Immigration Minister Michael Wood announcing several changes in New Zealand's immigration settings. This is done supposedly to further support NZ businesses to address the global labour shortage and attract more high-skilled workers in the long term.
On Monday (December 12), when he made the announcement, Wood said, “We understand that labour shortages are the biggest issue facing NZ businesses and are contributing to cost of living pressures too. As part of our signalled review, we are expanding the Green List settings to include more professions in our healthcare, education, and construction sectors, to give a competitive edge in a highly competitive global environment.”
According to the announcement, from Thursday (December 15), registered nurses, midwives, and any specialist doctors not already eligible will have an immediate pathway to the residence, including those already in NZ. Also, from March 2023, the work-to-residence pathway will be further expanded to include all teachers and will add in additional roles such as drain layers, motor mechanics and skilled civil machine operators.
Wood said, “We are continuing to pull out all the stops to position ourselves ahead of the pack. Adding these roles will further build on the attractiveness of NZ to those looking to set themselves and their families up long term.”
Another important announcement was that bus and truck drivers will have a time-limited residence pathway through a sector agreement.
The other additional measures have also been confirmed, including automatically extending employer accreditation by 12 months if their first accreditation is applied for by July 4 2023. Also, introducing a streamlined Specific Purpose work visa to help keep the approximate 2,500 long-term critical workers already in NZ to continue to work in their current role for up to three years and lastly, providing a 12-month Open Work Visa for approximately 1,800 previous holders of Post Study Work Visas (PSWV) who missed out because of the border closure in 2020-21 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
More details about the announcement can be found on www.immigration.govt.nz
Indian Weekender spoke to leading immigration experts to know their take on the changes and how they will impact the future of NZ as a sought-after destination for skilled migrants.
Pawandeep Singh, Director, Kiwiana Immigration
Announcements by INZ are highly appreciable considering the ongoing scenario of the NZ economy and the role migrant workers can play in meeting the demands of the different industries/sectors. Still, there is a lot to be done. For example, INZ announced an open work visa of 12 months for those who gained the PSWV but left NZ before the border closure and couldn't return. Still, a group of people departed while they were on a student visa and completed the rest of their studies online while offshore. Still, as per the policy, they no longer qualify to apply for the post-study work visa. The government should also consider doing something for them as an exception and devise some action plan.
Alastair McClymont, Immigration Law Specialist, McClymont & Associates
The recent Immigration announcement clearly shows the ongoing clash between the government's ideologically driven immigration policies developed pre-Covid to address record high net migration and the economic realities post covid.
Despite almost every single person in the country knowing for several years now what needed to be done with our immigration settings, it seems that a small handful of government cabinet ministers resisted as long as possible implementing the required changes because they were wedded so much to their ideological, and evidentially false belief that migrants stunt wage growth and deprive kiwis of job opportunities. The government can’t be congratulated for doing the obvious because their painfully slow response to what was required has caused considerable harm to NZ businesses, economic growth, and to migrants and their families.
Noorie Dhillon, Director, Dhillon Immigration Services
The latest immigration announcements have come as a massive relief for many people stuck offshore and a bright ray of hope for many migrants who can fit the new criterion. The government is working in the right direction by considering the needs of our employers and delivering solutions to overcome the bottleneck.
There is, however, more work to be done, especially if the government considers legalising those unlawful migrants who can work and contribute to our economy.
Saif Shaikh, Director, Immigration Advice NZ
It is welcome news to many migrants. The government announcing a 12-month PSWV for applicants who had been disadvantaged due to the border closures is a massive relief for those applicants as they will be able to return to NZ.
Since NZ is competing with several other countries for healthcare professionals, such as doctors, midwives, and nurses, these announcements of them having a straight pathway to the residence is a great decision.
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