Skilled migrant and essential skills wage changes

Are you ready for the new wage rates that apply from February 24? Not only will you have to alter your payroll, but that will flow through to your reporting to the Inland Revenue for tax purposes too.

The new thresholds are based on the New Zealand median salary and wage rate of NZD $25.50 per hour (up 2% from last year) which is equivalent to NZD $53,040 per year for a 40-hour per week job.

But it is not all as cut and dry as it seems. For starters even if your employee signed the employment agreement prior to February 24, but the visa application is lodged on or after that date, the application will be assessed under the new wage levels. Malcolm Pacific Immigration is dealing with these issues daily. Call us for help.