Govt ups ante on gap in workers

The Government has outlined a multi-pronged approach to solving the country’s shortage of construction workers.

Building and Construction Minister Jenny Salesa said its action plan would target six areas, bringing together the Government’s control over its own contracts and immigration settings, with an additional focus on skills and training.

‘‘Together we will ensure the construction sector can deliver the right people at the right time with the right skills to meet our construction needs.’’

More than a quarter of a million people are employed in the building sector but forecasts say another 55,000 to 60,000 more will be needed within five years.

Economic Development Minister David Parker will be in charge of leveraging government procurement to give companies more certainty to invest.

Employment Minister Willie Jackson will be in charge of establishing hubs that will offer industry-specific training to jobseekers. Education Minister Chris Hipkins will work to promote careers and ‘‘microcredentials’’, and Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni will work to expand skills.

Jackson also heads the ‘‘Mana in Mahi – Strength in Work’’ scheme, a wage subsidy for employers who hire registered jobseekers and offer an industry qualification.

Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway is in charge of further immigration changes. He has already flagged changes to immigration settings to speed up the importation of overseas construction workers.

Ron Angel, a union coordinator for E tu¯ , said building companies working with the Government would have to provide training and skill development, ‘‘which we support’’.

The union also backed new qualifications in specialised areas such as framing manufacturing and the assembly of prefabricated buildings. The establishment of more industry hubs, with all the services needed to maximise recruitment, training and career development, was also a sound move, Angel said.

‘‘We saw these set up in Christchurch after the quakes and they were very effective, with a lot of activity generated out of them.’’

The announcement also confirmed a change to visa rules to make it easier to employ skilled migrants for specific projects.

However, Lees-Galloway has said the moves would not allow overseas workers to be paid less than their New Zealand counterparts.