New regime for student visas
The Government is overhauling the scheme that covers international students working in New Zealand.
Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway expects the changes to affect 12,000 to 16,000 people, and to result in a drop in annual net migration. The visa changes, announced today, would end the requirement for a post-study work visa to be sponsored by a particular employer – something that has led to some migrant workers being exploited by their employer without the freedom to speak out, for fear of losing their job and their right to live and work in New Zealand.
‘‘There have been too many cases where migrant workers have been subject to exploitation because they are dependent on a particular employer to stay in the country,’’ Lees-Galloway said.
The overhaul would also significantly change the ability for international students to gain a visa poststudy. Especially those who had completed a shorter, or non-degreelevel qualification.
The length of post-study work visas for courses below degree level would be limited to one year.
People who completed a course of less than two years would not be eligible for a post-study work visa.
Graduates would be able to apply for other visas after their courses finished, or their post-study work visas ran out. But they would need to meet the usual skills and labour market tests. ‘‘Work experience in New Zealand is important to many students who come here to study.
‘‘My proposals retain this while restricting an avenue of exploitation,’’ Lees-Galloway said.
‘‘Too many students are being sold a false dream in New Zealand that the current post-study work rights can put students on a fast track to residency here.
‘‘This has led to a decline in the general skill level of migrants granted permanent residency, and fraudulent and frankly unethical behaviour from some agents, employers and education providers has led to students being exploited.’’
The changes follow a raft of horror stories of migrant worker and student exploitation in recent years.
Each year, tens of thousands of Chinese and Indian families were sold a dream: they sent their children to study in New Zealand, with the hope of them gaining employment, and eventually a permanent life. While only 17 per cent of them would gain permanent residency, along the way many were exploited by dodgy education providers and employers. In some cases, those running the educational institutes, which dolled out near-meaningless qualifications for a hefty sum, also owned businesses in the hospitality, horticulture, and retail industries.
Those who gained post-study visas were bonded to their employer and, in some cases, forced to work long hours, for less than minimum wages, and to live in poor conditions. Exploited workers did not want to blow the whistle for fear of losing their job, and their spot in New Zealand.
Groups including the Migrant Workers’ Association and Unite Union had called on the Government to remove the provision that tied workers to employers, giving them the freedom to find a suitable job, and speak out against any exploitation or abuse.
Unite Union organiser Joe Carolan said the migrant worker sector felt betrayed by the Government, which made big promises to clean up the industry, and help those students who had been exploited and then deported, ahead of the election.
During the election the migrant population were used as ‘‘scapegoats’’ for Auckland’s population issues – something you would expect from Donald Trump, not Leftwing Kiwi politicians, he said.
Post-election a crackdown on dodgy education institutes and employers had left the Indian community feeling targeted.
Carolan also criticised the Government for not keeping its promise to help students whose supporting visa documents were forged by agents in India, leaving them to be deported with no qualification.
‘‘Many students are being sold a false dream.’’
Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway