Business smarts IMMIGRATION
HIRING MIGRANTS
prepare NOW for big changes If your business employs migrant workers, you need to start preparing now for some significant changes to the visa and employer accreditation process taking effect from mid-next year. Find out more in this Q&A with Zinny Cheng, Visa Operations and Delivery Manager at Working In.
D
emand remains high for migrant construction workers in New Zealand. With high numbers of new home consents (47,331 in the year to September 2021), unemployment rates at a 14-year low at 3.4%, and acute plumbing skills shortages in several regions, some
employers are already looking to hire new staff from overseas in anticipation of New Zealand reopening its borders. This Q&A guides you through major upcoming changes to the work visa process to ensure your business has the upper hand when it comes to recruiting and retaining valuable migrant workers.
Q: Can I still hire migrant workers through the work to residence (WTR) visa pathway? A: Work to residence visas closed to new applications on 31 October 2021. If you have existing employees on these visas*, they remain valid for the full 30-month period and the employee can still apply for residency after two years in the job.
