More MIQ space lets workers in

The Government has announced that it will use space in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities freed up by quarantine-free trans-Tasman travel to get more skilled and other workers into the country.

The Government has announced that from June, there will be 500 spaces every fortnight set aside for ‘‘large groups’’. The Government envisages that this will include

300 Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme workers per fortnight, and 240 ‘‘specialised construction workers’’ between June and October. It will also allow for 400 international students to arrive in June and

100 refugees every six weeks from July.

‘‘The trans-Tasman bubble has freed up more rooms, allowing us to allocate more places in managed isolation for critical workers,’’ Minister for Covid Response Chris Hipkins said. The Government had previously indicated that extra MIQ space created by the trans-Tasman bubble would likely be used to bring in more economic migrants, plugging skill shortages in areas identified by the Government.

‘‘The Government and food and fibre sector have been working hard to mitigate worker shortages by training and upskilling New Zealanders, but there is still the need for additional labour,’’ Hipkins said. ‘‘This decision should see around 2400 more RSE workers entering New Zealand in time for next summer’s harvest season and pruning this winter. This is in addition to the 7300 RSE workers in the country, including the 2000 the Government approved to support the horticulture and viticulture industries.’’