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Sector agreement settings and Working Holiday Scheme changes announced earlier this week will help employers with workforce shortages. Learn more about these announcements below:
Sector Agreement Settings
Most migrant workers holding an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) will be paid the median wage (NZD $27.76 an hour) or more. However, new sector settings will allow limited exemptions on median wage in industries like constructions and infrastructure, care, tourism and hospitality, and meat and seafood processing. These sector settings will apply from 31 October 2022, and most will run until at least October 2024.
These further exemptions on the medium wage requirements will help employers in those sectors hiring and retaining skilled staff. However, most migrants on AEWV who are paid less than the median wage for two years will have to wait 12 months before reapplying for another AEWV, unless they find a role that will pay at least the medium wage or more.
To learn more about the sector agreement settings, click here.
Working Holiday Visa Scheme
The Government will help sectors that employ migrants with Working Holiday Visas (WHV) with three measures:
- WHV holders in New Zealand whose visa is expiring between 26 August 2022 and 31 May 2023 (inclusive) will have their visa extended by six months from date of expiry.
- WHV holders outside New Zealand that couldn't travel due to Covid-19 will have new visas issued allowing them to travel to New Zealand until January 2023.
- WHV caps will double as an one-off effort to fill the spots that were unused last year due to the border restrictions. This could mean up to 12,000 more working holiday makers may come to New Zealand over the next 12 months.
At Trinity we understand that there are staffing shortages across the board. Businesses have been screaming out for help but many have found the offshore market to be inaccessible for a variety of reasons (here is our take in this subject). These latest announcements will help a number of different industries access the pool of skilled offshore migrants and, as a result, see their businesses grow.
Get in contact with our immigration and recruitment teams today to identify your needs and discuss accessing the offshore market to gain your required skill sets.
