Mid Canterbury’s dairy industry could see a boost in staff numbers following the government’s proposed visa changes.
A rejig of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) criteria could make hiring migrant workers easier on the wallet for employers, and allow migrants to stay in the country for longer stints.
That could mean more staff for our local dairy sector, licensed immigration adviser Maria Jimenez said.
“It’s very important to our dairy farmers, as it’s a main industry for us.
“The changes are good for both employers and employees.”
Jimenez, director of local service Jimenez Immigration, said the current hiring conditions aren’t great for employers.
The median wage rate – the minimum pay a migrant on the AEWV can receive – sits at $31.61 per hour, while the minimum wage for citizens is $23.15 per hour.
“If [employers] have a resident who’s earning just minimum wage, or $25 per hour, with more experience, they’re not very happy because someone who’s on a work visa is earning more than them.”
The obligation for employers to meet that rate will be removed as part of the changes, which would open up work and visa pathways alike.
For visa applicants, it could make obtaining residency harder.
“They’ll have more chances to be hired on a work visa, but you still need to meet the median wage to achieve residency.
“It will be more challenging to get that.”
Jimenez’s advice to those applying for AEWVs was to prove they had a good work ethic.
“Show what you can offer your employers.
“If they can see you’re really productive, they’re willing to promote you and support you with your residency.”
Client manager and marketer Ken Aguila said most contractors would help visa holders upskill, hold higher management positions and get them on the road to residency.
“All the employers we’ve talked to are willing to support their migrant workers, and value their work.”
“Especially for dairy farmers, because the work’s very hard.”
Jimenez warned employers that there were two sides to the same coin; as workers needed employment, contractors needed skill labour.
“The constant with immigration is change.
“I’d like to emphasise that if you’ve got a migrant worker, and they’re qualified, secure them now.”
Immigration minister Erica Stanford made the announcement in December.
“Our focus remains on attracting more higher-skilled workers while managing migration levels responsibly, so New Zealand has access to the skills we need to grow our economy.
“These changes will support a smarter, efficient and predictable immigration system.”
The obligation for employers to meet the median wage rate of $31.61 will be removed in March this year, Stanford said.
“It distorted wages and in some cases resulted in businesses paying migrant workers more than New Zealanders doing the same job,” Stanford said.
In favour of migrants, the minimum experience requirement for low-skilled labour will be reduced to two years, and visas will last an extra year to align with the maximum continuous stay requirement.
Employers will be required to advertise jobs locally first, through the Ministry of Social Development, and prove they’ve tried recruiting Kiwis before they advertise abroad.
Jimenez stressed that the announcement was “still just news,” and was not a concrete commitment.
“They made the announcement that it’ll be sometime this year, but we don’t have any clear instructions as to when changes will [come].”
Industry organisation DairyNZ believes the changes will help ease staffing pressure on farmers.
Research by the group claims 16% of farms across the nation are understaffed.
“While our sector employs significant numbers of New Zealanders, international workers have filled a genuine gap in the workforce,” chief executive Campbell Parker said.
“Increasing the visa duration to three years for some workers will [add] certainty for farmers over the different seasons.”
He said most migrant workers “start as entry-level farm assistants, making it challenging for businesses to justify paying the median wage,” so the removal of median wage requirements was welcome.
“These new changes will align wages with local workers while helping to create a pathway for migrants.
“The value of international workers should not be underestimated. They and their families contribute to the vibrancy and prosperity of rural communities.”
By Anisha Satya
