New Zealand: Changes in immigration policy.
Description
An amendment to the immigration law, which becomes effective from 27 July 2009, will make it tougher for migrant workers to come to New Zealand. The stricter rules apply to those who are coming to work in New Zealand on a seasonal employment scheme. Those people can no longer support applications by their partners and children to come to New Zealand as well. Visas will be limited to 1 year for lower-skilled workers.
However, the amendment will ease some requirements for those immigrants who are already in New Zealand and have lost their jobs. If a migrant worker loses their job during the probationary 90-day period, they get a further 3 month visitors permit and the children of that person will be allowed to continue their schooling.
Also, the Labor Department of New Zealand has removed 44 job-types of 87 occupations from its 'immediate skill-shortage list'. Affected trades include bakers, sheep farm workers, carpenters, plumbers, and others. An employer wishing to hire a foreigner has to show that there are no suitable New Zealanders available. State officials argued that there was anincreased supply of New Zealand citizens and permanent residents who are qualified to fulfill the positions which were previously on the skill shortage list.
A potentially important factor is that New Zealand emigrants who have lost their job overseas are returning home; apparently more than 3,000 of 26,000 who returned last year ended up on welfare benefits from the government.
Any Evidence-Based Deliberation:
| Question | Result |
|---|---|
| Is there anything in the public record to suggest that evidence of the effectiveness of the proposed measure was considered during official deliberations? | Don't know |
| Is there any evidence that alternatives to the proposed measure were considered? | Don't Know |
| Is there anything in the public record that suggests that empirical evidence informed the comparison across the alternatives available to government? | Don't Know |
| Was such evidence identified? | Don't Know |
| Is such evidence publicly available? | Don't Know |
| Did the official decision-maker in question provide an explanation as to why a chosen measure was favoured over alternatives? | Don't Know |
| Is there any evidence to suggest that potentially affected trading partners were consulted before the measures were taken? | Don't Know |
| Is there any evidence that safeguards have been put in place to ensure that implementation of the initiative is transparent and non-discriminatory? | Don't Know |
| Did the government state its intention to review the measure within one year of implementation? | Don't Know |
Date Discovered: 14/07/2009
Implemented: Yes
Date of inception: 27 Jul 2009
GTA Evaluation: Amber
Source:
Officil information from the Immigration page of the Department of Labor of New Zealand, avaliable < http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/generalinformation/news/p... >
Government Response:
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