Hiring and supporting migrant workers

The building and construction sector is New Zealand’s fourth largest employer, comprising nearly 10 percent of the total workforce.

Lifting the capability and capacity of the construction workforce is a priority for New Zealand, and essential to progress KiwiBuild and developments in health, education, transport and regional growth. The Government and industry-led Construction Sector Transformation Plan paves the way for delivering action and change across industry in areas such as leadership, people development, health, safety and wellbeing, including mental health. Immigration New Zealand has an ongoing commitment to work with industry to improve initiatives to help make the building and construction sector a success story for New Zealand. It set up the Construction and Infrastructure Skill Shortage List (CISSL) to support the government’s construction and infrastructure commitments. Skill shortage lists simplify the process of granting temporary work visas to people who have construction and infrastructure skills to fill a shortage. The CISSL helps migrants with construction and infrastructure skills into work. The CISSL contains occupations in critical shortage in the construction industry across all regions throughout New Zealand to meet their identified labour shortages. It also imposes specific requirements on labour hire companies to manage the risk of migrant exploitation. Employers and applicants who are interested in occupations on the CISSL can check the Skill Shortages list on the New Zealand immigration website: www.immigration.govt.nz/newzealand-visas/options/work. The applicants must have the skills and experience required by the skill shortage list.

Visa options for migrants

Visa options for migrant workers fall into two broad types, Residence class visas and Temporary work visas. If employers frequently hire migrants or have many positions to fill, there are several options for streamlining the visa application process. If employers need to regularly recruit skilled overseas workers, they can consider becoming an Immigration New Zealand Accredited Employer. While they are accredited, they can employ skilled migrant workers without first having to check if any New Zealanders can do the work. They must take direct responsibility for the workers, for their work and they must pay a minimum base salary. If a migrant worker intends to use an overseas qualification to get a job in New Zealand, they may need to check that their qualification is recognised by the relevant sector before they migrate.

Migrant workers make a valuable contribution

Migrant workers play an important role in construction work in New Zealand. They make a valuable contribution by filling labour and skill shortages. New migrant workers may need extra support, particularly when they first start. If you employ migrant workers, your support will help them to feel settled and supported in their jobs and enable them to contribute more to the success of your workplace. The New Zealand workplace and how we communicate at work can be quite different for many new migrant workers. Working in construction in New Zealand may be different from other countries. New migrant workers may not know about some of the rules we have in the New Zealand construction industry. The New Zealand workplace health and safety system may also differ. Employers can help new migrant workers by explaining the differences to them. They can also help to explain the need to learn new ways of working and complete extra workplace training, and how to gain New Zealand qualifications.

Support for migrant workers

Immigration New Zealand provides advice on settling migrant employees. This includes information on preparing for the arrival of migrant staff, supporting migrant staff, workplace communication and culture and resources for the employer and migrant staff. Immigration New Zealand has employer toolkits available on its website: www. immigration.govt.nz/employ-migrants/guides/ construction-guide - with tips on how to help migrant workers settle, including topics like workplace communication.

Gaining employment in the building and construction sector

Robert Manfield, senior communications advisor at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority discusses what qualifications incoming workers need.

What qualifications are needed to work in the building and construction industry in NZ?

The qualifications required to gain employment in a particular trade or industry will be specified either by an overall regulating body for that industry, or by the specific employer themselves. In the case of building and construction, further information can be obtained from BCITO, Careers NZ or Immigration NZ: www.bcito.org.nz, www.careers.govt.nz/ construction, www.immigration.govt.nz/ employ-migrants/guides/construction-guide.

What education is available for migrant workers to get qualified in NZ?

The education options available to migrant workers will depend upon what qualification they are seeking to gain - based on the job they wish to apply for and the requirements stipulated by their employer or industry body. Similarly, the Immigration New Zealand website offers guidance about the visa process for both study and work: www.immigration.govt.nz.

What costs are attached to emigrating to NZ?

Immigration New Zealand would be better placed to answer questions regarding the costs pertaining to relocation, emigration, visa applications and other associated expenses. The cost of individual education programmes is determined by the education provider and varies considerably. It would be best to contact the provider concerned to obtain the latest figures for this. If a migrant worker has gained qualifications outside of New Zealand and wishes to have them assessed, so that they can be recognised in New Zealand, then the cost and process for this can be found here: www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/ international-qualifications. www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/ international-qualifications/internationalqualification-assessment-fees.

What is the best way for migrant workers to explore their options here in NZ?

The following website lists details about many organisations who can provide information for migrant workers about various aspects of life in New Zealand: www.careers.govt.nz/jobhunting/new-to-new-zealand/organisationsthat-help-migrants-in-new-zealand/nationalorganisations-that-help-migrants.

What is the benefit to migrant workers of getting their qualifications assessed by NZQA?

If a migrant worker is intending to use their qualifications to meet the employment criteria for a specific industry or job offer, or for any other such reason, then it is likely that they will need to get their overseas qualifications assessed by NZQA.