ANNOUNCEMENT 27 Jul 2009

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.

NUMBER OF INTERVENTIONS

2

  • 1 harmful
  • 0 neutral
  • 1 liberalising

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/policychanges.htm >


Inception date: 27 Jul 2009 | Removal date: open ended
Still in force

Post-migration treatment

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.

AFFECTED SECTORS

 
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AFFECTED PRODUCTS

 
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Inception date: 27 Jul 2009 | Removal date: open ended
Still in force

Labour market access

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. 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.
 
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