INTERNATIONAL WORKERS: HOW TO RECRUIT & RETAIN

Top tips on recruiting and retaining a skilled international workforce to help grow your team.

AUTHOR: ZINNY CHENG, WORKING IN

After a year jam-packed with immigration policies and changes, here’s a guide for employers looking to hire and retain skilled international workers in 2023.

Become an Accredited Employer

With the implementation of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), employers hiring skilled international workers must be accredited. Employers who apply for their first accreditation by 4 July 2023 will be given an automatic 12-month extension, bringing the total validity to 24 months. So, it’s a good idea to get underway if you haven’t already.

Depending on your business structure, there are different types of accreditations to apply for. Our recommendation would be to forecast your workforce needs for two years and apply for the appropriate accreditation. If your business holds Standard Accreditation and utilises all five Job Tokens, then an upgrade application must be submitted.

Help with settling in

As an Accredited Employer, there are minimum standards you must meet to assist with an international worker’s settlement into the country, including providing them with the necessary settlement information, and allowing them time during paid work hours within their first month of employment to complete the Employment Learning Modules.

While the requirements above tick immigration boxes, here are some examples of additional things you can do to help create a positive first impression:

Create a welcome kit

Arrange someone at work to meet with them and act as their buddy or mentor

Take them through their job description and responsibilities

Give new employees a background and history of the business

Organise accommodation and transportation.

Create a supportive work environment

Many migrants do not have family or friends in New Zealand and must build their network from scratch. Having a supportive ‘work family’ and company culture will help create a sense of belonging and community. Take time to understand the values and work styles of your new employee’s culture. This will also help with engagement and bringing out their strengths in the workplace.

Ensure you are market competitive

We know the market is competitive. Making sure your offering aligns with market rates will reduce wondering minds. Schedule and plan for annual salary reviews.

Be aware of your employees’ visa conditions

Ensuring employees and their managers understand visa conditions will help prevent non-compliance.

In addition, make sure you are up to date with employees’ visa expiries. Close to an expiry, have a chat with them so they know you are aware and that you will support them with the renewal process. This gives employees peace of mind and may prevent them from considering other employment opportunities.

Keep abreast of residence pathway information

In 2022, the Skilled Migrant Category reopened and new residence categories such as the Green List were created.

Great news is that as of March 2023, Gasfitters and Drainlayers have been added to the Green List ‘Work to Residence’ category, with a two-year pathway to residence.

Suitable candidates will start looking at New Zealand as a destination of choice. As well as having your Accreditation, ensuring you have Job Check tokens will allow you to make offers and have candidates apply straight away.

Ensuring your international workers are well and accurately informed with regards to their visa conditions, options and pathways will also help with recruitment and retention. Accessing information from the right source, such as a Licensed Immigration Adviser, can provide clarity and direction.

Assist with language upskilling

Something practical you can do to support your workers is help them improve their English language skills. Although English isn’t a requirement for most temporary visa categories (eg, the AEWV), it’s mandatory for many residence visa categories.

Most applicants who aren’t from English-speaking countries will need to take an English language test if they’re planning to apply for residence. The sooner they pass, the sooner they can put more focus and energy into their job. We can help set up teachers who run English lessons in your workplace.

To have a chat with Working In regarding any visa, immigration or recruitment assistance, please email Zinny at zinny.cheng@workingin.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Zinny Cheng is a Licensed Immigration Adviser at Working In—the trusted partner of hundreds of Kiwi employers for almost 25 years. Their Recruitment, Immigration and Settlement teams attract, screen, relocate and retain skilled overseas workers, filling skill shortages for NZ businesses and leaving no stone unturned. To get upto-date immigration information, register for the Working In newsletter, with updates regarding policy in an easy, digestible format that relates to your business and workers: https://workingin-visas.co.nz/register-now

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