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HUMAN RESOURCES: VIVA LA VISA
VIVA LA (WHM) VISA
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BUMP VISA PROGRAMS AND RELAX WORKING RESTRICTIONS TO DRAW INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS TO THEIR SHORES TO LIVE AND WORK. RUTH HOGAN REPORTS.
Competition is heating up between Australia and New Zealand as both markets vie for the attention of international workers to plug the labour shortage in heavily impacted sectors such as tourism and hospitality.
In recent weeks, both countries have announced extended visa programs and relaxed restrictions to attract skilled migrants to their shores.
Working holiday makers are returning to Australia and New Zealand in small numbers
At Australia’s Jobs and Skills Summit, held in September, government announced an increase in the permanent Migration Program ceiling to 195,000 in 2022- 23, and promised investment of AU$36.1 million in visa processing to help clear a colossal backlog of applications. An additional 500 people will be hired for the next nine months to tackle the excess and speed up the entry of international travellers and workers to Australia.
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles, said this area of administration has been neglected for too long.
“There were almost a million visas waiting for this government after the election. Today, that number is around 900,000,” Giles said.
-Andrew Giles, Minister for Immigration
An additional 180 staff were assigned to visa processing following the election, and currently 190 staff are being on-boarded, and up to 200 staff are working regular overtime, the Minister explained.
Wait times for skilled visas, student visas and working holiday visas have all reduced since the introduction of more staff, with the latter now finalised in less than a day.
The hospitality industry has been one of the hardest hit by the labour shortage
“The backlog will be cleared,” Giles said. “Waiting times will continue to come down … This is the beginning, not the end.”
Industry association including Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) have been very vocal about concerns around visa processing delays and the resulting impact on businesses.
“This is really positive news. It’s great to see the government acknowledging the problem,” TAA CEO Michael Johnson told HM.
Furthermore, government answered calls to remove financial penalties deterring pensioners to re-enter the workforce. Those who want to work can now earn an additional $4,000 over this financial year without losing any of their pension.
Johnson said the accommodation industry will benefit greatly from the experience of mature age workers.
The Australian government has introduced new measures to boost the return of international workers
“We’ve got this massive workforce that are prepared to work,” he said.
The government has also committed to modernising Australia’s workplace relations laws, including to make bargaining accessible for all, and amending the Fair Work Act to improve access to flexible working arrangements, make unpaid parental leave more flexible and strengthen protection for workers against discrimination and harassment.
Efforts will also be made to reduce barriers to employment for women, First Nations people, regional Australians and culturally and linguistically diverse people, including equity targets for training places, and 1,000 digital apprenticeships in the Australian Public Service.
NEW ZEALAND DOUBLES WORKING HOLIDAY VISAS
Across the Tasman, New Zealand’s Working HolidayScheme cap for 2022/23 has been doubled, allowing an extra 12,000 working holidaymakers able to enter the country.
Additionally, some onshore working holidaymakers visas will have the opportunity to lengthen their stay. Those with a visa that expires between 26 August 2022 and31 May 2023 will have it extended for six months, allowing more time to work and travel around the country.
Those who previously held a working holiday visa but were unable to travel due to the pandemic will also be supported to stay in New Zealand.
“New visas will be issued to people from October 2022allowing them to enter New Zealand by 31 January 2023,” said Immigration Minister Michael Wood.
New Zealand has doubled the number of working holiday visas available for 2022-2023
“This visa will allow them to be in New Zealand for 12 months.”
Since the border fully reopened in July, New Zealand has welcomed around 4,000 working holidaymakers, and over 21,000 have had their application to work inNew Zealand approved.
Minister Wood is confident that these changes will help bolster New Zealand’s workforce.
“These changes will have a positive impact on the workforce and will make the most of the increase in working holidaymakers we expect to welcome during the peak summer season,” he said.
Both countries are also introducing clearer pathways to permanent residency, an important drawcard in this competitive jobs market.
New Zealand’s unemployment rate stood at 3.3% in the second quarter, while wages were up 3.4% on the year, rising at the fastest rate in 14 years.
Meanwhile, Australia’s unemployment rate stands at 3.5% after rising, in August, for the first time in10 months.
