Still hope in worker talks
The latest tweaks to the Government’s immigration policy fail to address labour shortages in rural areas but there is hope, Federated Farmers and DairyNZ say.
Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said feedback during the consultation period had prompted the change which would mean about 6000 more low skilled workers would be able to stay in the country longer.
Woodhouse said the salary band for midskilled workers would be lowered to 85 per cent of the New Zealand median income, which is currently $41,538 a year, instead of $48,859 as proposed during consultation.
Migrants earning below $41,538 a year would be considered lower-skilled and subject to a yearlong stand down period, after three years of working in New Zealand.
Any migrant earning between $41,538 and $73,299 a year in an occupation classified as Level 1 – 3 would be considered mid-skilled and those earning more than $73,299 a year would automatically be considered higher-skilled, regardless of occupation, Woodhouse said.
However, Federated Farmers immigration spokesman Chris Lewis said none of the proposed changes would help employers attract and retain the motivated and capable migrant employees needed in the primary sector.
‘‘Although we acknowledge that there is a commitment to continue to work with the industry to address deficiencies in the current system that specifically impact the primary sector,’’ Lewis said.
The changes restrict the vast majority of migrant dairy farm workers to a maximum of three consecutive one year visas (maximum three years) before an enforced stand-down where they must leave the country for 12 months.
Given the depth of labour shortages in rural areas, the move would only force out migrants who have been invested in, trained and integrated into the farm and community, to be replaced by another migrant who was new to New Zealand, Lewis said.
Partners and children of lowerskilled visa holders would also have to meet visa conditions in their own right which would reduce New Zealand’s competitiveness as a destination for dairy farm workers, he said.
‘‘[This will] take the heart out of rural communities relying on the families of migrants to provide critical mass to schools, social groups and community organisations.
‘‘We are disappointed that the Government failed to address our concerns in these proposals,’’ Lewis said.
In his announcement of the policy changes, Woodhouse said a second phase would focus on the classification of dairy staff jobs.
Lewis said it was hoped farmer organisations could work with the Government during the next stage.
‘‘We can only hope that if we continue to try to work constructively with the Government during phase two of the changes, some of our concerns including the immediate future of great people working here in New Zealand now, can be addressed,’’ he said.