Immigration policy ‘unfair on workers’

Dairy farmers are being urged to take a stand against an immigration policy that would place them in a ‘‘dire situation’’.

Immigration adviser Ben De’Ath is encouraging farmers to unite against the stand-down, a policy that requires low-skilled work visa holders to be stood down after three years.

De’Ath, managing director of nationwide immigration and recruitment service provider The Regions, has launched a petition against the policy and would be encouraging farmers to sign it at a series of immigration seminars around the country this month.

‘‘We want the Government to realise this is not the way forward for New Zealand’s largest contributor to the country’s economy,’’ he said.

De’Ath said the stand-down policy was unfair on hardworking migrant workers and placed farmers in a ‘‘dire situation’’ when the industry was already experiencing a shortage of skilled workers.

‘‘New Zealand can’t afford to have a one-size fits all immigration policy, not when it comes to the dairy industry,’’ De’Ath said.

‘‘Rural communities are not the same as cities like Auckland. Their employment needs are different.

‘‘That means policies need to reflect this.’’

The regions worked with dairy farmers to recruit experienced, hardworking and reliable migrant workers, mainly from the Philippines.

‘‘These farm workers come to New Zealand for a better life and to provide invaluable assistance to New Zealand’s dairy farming industry,’’ De’Ath said.

Around 3800 migrants are already working on New Zealand dairy farms and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) estimates New Zealand’s primary industries will need an extra 50,000 qualified workers by 2025.