The Government of Aotearoa New Zealand has been steadfast in its commitment to protect migrant workers and uphold workers' rights.
The primary aim of the accreditation process was to prevent the exploitation of migrants and incentivize employers to prioritise hiring New Zealanders. However recent reports have brought to light instances of exploitation among migrant employees who arrived in New Zealand through the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) program.
There have been a few cases which have tested the system where some workers are being subjected to unscrupulous practices, such as being charged fees for their visas, facing unjust dismissals, and being assigned menial tasks that do not align with their skills and qualifications. These incidents have raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the visa process in safeguarding the rights and well-being of migrant workers.
The Government has also passed the Worker Protection (Migrant and Other Employees) Bill. This legislative move introduces new infringement offences to target lower-level breaches, ultimately combating migrant worker exploitation.
The bill also disqualifies individuals convicted of migrant exploitation and people trafficking from managing or directing companies in New Zealand.
The Worker Protection Bill's earlier measures, which included a dedicated 0800 number and reporting tools, the Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa, and liaison support services for victims of migrant exploitation. demonstrated positive results to protect migrants, but the Government admits continuous vigilance has been necessary to tackle this issue effectively.
As part of the government's ongoing efforts to protect migrants, changes to employer accreditation have been announced, which will have implications for businesses and migrant workers alike.
Originally projected to be implemented in 2021, the government has decided to require Accredited Employer NZ status for all migrant employers starting in 2024. This extension goes beyond individuals employed on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and encompasses working holiday scheme visa holders, student visa holders, and those on open work visas.
Although exact details of how this will be implemented have not been released, The changes may inadvertently limit work opportunities for migrants, making New Zealand a less appealing destination for travellers seeking work. Additionally, small business owners might face challenges in complying with the new requirements, impacting their hiring practices and decisions.
While the Accreditation Status Check Tool aims to help prospective migrant employees verify an employer's accreditation, some concerns arise.
Becoming an Accredited Employer through the current declaration-based system is relatively straightforward. However, the compliance that is needed to become accredited could be difficult for a small business to provide. It could potentially burden businesses that lack HR teams to handle such administrative tasks and non-compliance could result in the loss of accreditation and access to migrant workers. One specific requirement that businesses need to pass is the Employer Check.
To be eligible for accreditation currently, employers must meet the regulations set by Immigration New Zealand, including the Employer Check which requires:
As many of our tourism and horticulture businesses rely on working holiday visa employees to service their business, it is crucial for Immigration New Zealand to provide clear information soon on how these changes will be implemented and whether the same conditions imposed on employers as the accredited employee work visa.
Not only do they need to clarify the process but they also need to reassure businesses that the capacity of Immigration New Zealand can handle the processes and compliance checks without overwhelming or slowing businesses.
Want to know more about Employer Accreditation? Let Malcolm Pacific Immigration help simplify the process for you.
Our employer services and online application tool have been created to streamline the process of becoming an accredited employer.
Contact us today for a free consultation, and our licensed immigration advisers will guide you through the process, taking the stress out of the process and allowing you to focus on your business.
Our highly experienced licensed Immigration team will take away the stress and worry of navigating the complicated world of New Zealand Immigration. All you need to do is get in touch. Our team is on standby, ready to help.
Our highly experienced licensed Immigration team will take away the stress and worry of navigating the complicated world of New Zealand Immigration. All you need to do is get in touch. Our employer team is on standby, ready to help.
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Today the government announced a pathway to residence for migrant workers who are living and working in New Zealand. Applications open on 1 December 2021 for the first wave who are eligible to apply. The second wave can apply from 1 March 2022. The deadline to lodge an application is 31 July 2022 or else they will miss out on this one off opportunity.
Today the government announced a pathway to residence for people living and working in New Zealand. Applications open on 1 December 2021 for the first wave eligible to apply. The second wave can apply from 1 March 2022. The deadline to lodge an application is 31 July 2022 or else you miss the boat.
The government has moved the introduction of the new employer accreditation process across to mid-2022. At the same time, the Minister of Immigration announced new work visa rules for migrant workers who are already in New Zealand and working full time.
The government has increased the median wage to $27 per hour from 19 July. Any Skilled Migrant residence application lodged after this date will need to include a skilled job offer that pays at least $27 per hour. For some lower-skilled occupations, the minimum pay rate increases to $40.50 per hour.
From 19 July 2021
From 30 June 2021
Employers of migrant workers must become accredited from 1 November 2021 before work visa applications can be processed. Most employers are not accredited. Those that are accredited will have to roll into the new system when it goes live in late September.
From mid-2020 (delayed)
Skilled occupation "Dairy Cattle Farmer" spilt into three occupations. New occupations are: "Dairy Farm Manager", "Assistant Dairy Farm Manager" and "Dairy Herd Manager". Each sit at different skill levels, therefore, the award of points will depend on pay rates, job tasks and other requirements.
From 15 February 2021
The government has deferred the fortnightly selection of Expressions of Interest from the Skilled Migrant pool for six months (to be reviewed in April 2021). Invitations to Apply for Residence remain suspended. The last selection from the Skilled Migrant pool took place on 18/03/2020.
From 7 October 2020
The government added four new occupations that are now regarded as skilled employment and may qualify for job offer points under the Skilled Migrant Category. These are:
Aged or disabled carer, Bicycle mechanic, Driller and Nursing Support worker.
From 27 July 2020
Anyone invited by Immigration NZ to apply for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category where their invitation is dated between 1 November 2019 and 15 April 2020 (inclusive) has now been granted an additional six months to lodge their residence application.
From 27 May 2020
The government has deferred the fortnightly selection of Expressions of Interest from the Skilled Migrant pool. This means Invitations to Apply for Residence are also suspended. Malcolm Pacific Immigration does not anticipate selections to resume until after the general election held on 17 October 2020.
Immigration NZ is now prioritising Skilled Migrant Residence applications where the main (principal) applicant meets the criteria:
From 24 February 2020
From 7 October 2019
The government recently added more occupations that are now to be regarded as skilled employment and may qualify for job offer points under the Skilled Migrant Category. In order to qualify for points, the job must be paying at least the current median wage (or higher for certain occupations) at the time the residence application is lodged.
From 1 November 2021
From 1 November 2021 anyone who is not a NZ citizen must be fully vaccinated (unless exempt) before travelling to New Zealand. Fully vaccinated means your last dose of vaccine was given at least 14 days before travelling and it was an approved vaccine.
Applications for employer accreditation closed at the end of June 2021. Applications lodged before the closure date are still being processed. New applications for accreditation open on 9 May 2022. The process will be quite different to what employers have experienced in the past. Businesses will need to meet minimum standards.
Wednesday, 1 December is fast approaching and it is estimated that around 16,000 individuals and families can apply in the first wave for the 2021 Resident Visa opening next month. It is exciting for the thousands of people who have been waiting patiently to become residents that finally the finish line is in sight.
The first wave of applicants can apply from 1 December 2021. Around 16,000 applications are expected in this first wave. The second wave opens on 1 March 2022. In total, the government expects approximately 110,000 applications that will include about 165,000 people.
The second group of workers who can apply online for the 2021 Resident Visa that opens on 1 March 2022 are those who hold an eligible work visa and either meet "Settled", "Skilled" or "Scarce" as set out above. In total Immigration NZ estimate around 110,000 people will qualify to apply for this visa.
The first group of workers who can apply online for the 2021 Resident Visa that opens on 1 December 2021 are those that on 29/09/2021:
Is this the only requirement to qualify for residence? No. In addition to the eligible work visa criteria workers also need to be regarded as one of the following:
People who were lawfully in NZ (or in Australia when the travel bubble closed between April and July 2021) on 29/09/2021 need to meet the visa eligibility criteria:
The government has introduced a limited pathway to residence for people who are already living and working in New Zealand. Applications open on 1 December 2021 for the first wave of people eligible to apply. The second wave opens on 1 March 2022. The deadline to apply for the 2021 Resident Visa is 31 July 2022.
A small number of critical health workers (taking up jobs for six months or longer) or specialist workers (taking up jobs that are for longer than six months) who were granted border exemptions may also have eligibility for the 2021 Resident Visa. They will need to have arrived in NZ and lodge a 2021 Resident Visa application.
*Excludes high-risk countries.
*Excludes high-risk countries.
The work visa categories set to close are:
In order to address labour shortages in New Zealand's crucial industries the NZ government has implemented a "Green List" of sought-after high-skill occupations. This list offers a prioritised pathway to residency.
There are qualification and/or occupational registration requirements to meet. Occupations are broken down into two tiers:
The recent additions in May 2023 across many sectors can be found here