Immigration Changes: Sizzling hot or a bit of a fizzer?

Yesterday saw an announcement by Immigration New Zealand which is a real game-changer for some of our Clients, but only a select few. 

Our inboxes are full of enquiries from people hoping they are among the lucky winners. Being a migrant to New Zealand can surely be a roller coaster and I take this moment to honour those genuinely striving to make a life and contribute here - Kiwis seldom realise the struggles they face and the impact overnight policy changes can have on people. 'Nuff said.

This morning we sat down to analyse the 32-page amendment circular that welcomed us to work! Rarely do we see new policy announced with effect from 2 days prior...So it was important to quickly get our collective head around it.

It's all about a reclassification of certain jobs. How your job is classified has a major impact on the visas you can get. Some roles e.g. Personal Carer, yesterday deemed "low-skilled" will now be considered "skilled" if paying $25 per hour (soon to increase to $25.50). There are 44 occupations "re-branded" (full listing provided at the bottom of this page) and as per usual, anomalies abound. A construction rigger, for example, is now "skilled" but a scaffolder is not. A scaffolder must earn 50% more than the construction rigger to be deemed skilled by other rules. A beautician paid $25 is deemed "skilled", but an Assistant Restaurant Manager earning more is not. So, as with all things immigration, there will be joy for some, pain for others. Today I had a couple who said they had just received job offers at $25 per hour. One is a bookkeeper and the other a crane operator. Yesterday, they were out of luck, contemplating a return home across the world. Today, they win immigration lotto (if meeting 160 points and English language requirements). Others will find it extremely difficult, in practice, to reach the $25 required.

The interesting thing is that this comes at a time when our skilled migrant category is backlogged with cases lodged almost a year ago. There has been a slowing of applications being processed to put a lid on numbers. The government did, after all, want to see a reduction in numbers of migrants coming in as per its manifesto. And as for Winston Peters, we all know his immigration politics.

We are therefore somewhat quizzical as this change at this time. Perhaps it's a bid to try to drive wages up - but e.g. in the case of personal carers, we have already had a significant Pay Equity Settlement back in 2017. Which, by the way, made no appreciable difference to Kiwis wanting to take up those jobs. See e.g.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/104892066/better-pay-is-not-increasing-caregiver-workforce

And if it is a bid to drive up pay, then why only these jobs and not others, re-branded? There seems little rhyme nor reason. Blame the Aussies? - it is the Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations from which all this is derived.

Any case, I'm naturally happy to see certain categories of workers e.g. Personal Carers now have a pathway to residence. It will be the upper tranche that is on the required pay rate and as someone who represents many of them, I can vouch for the personal struggles these migrants have. They take care of our elderly with dedication. Often with nursing backgrounds overseas. I've seen carers with injuries from dealing with advanced dementia patients. These carers or their successors will no doubt be looking after most of us one day. I've long since advocated that they need a pathway to residence and now, at least, today - 31 October, we will see some of them sleep easier in the knowledge that they at long last have a pathway.

My only "corner of eye" concern of today is whether the increased pressure on the Skilled Migrant Category will see an increase in the points threshold as another way to give with one hand, while taking away with the other. Perhaps the numbers actually eligible to apply for residence under these changes will prove to be so low in reality that there won't be any need for further change.

In any event, for now, we just take the good news. Those who as of today now qualify on points to apply for the Skilled Migrant Category should do so while the going's good.

The other good news for those in the listed occupations is that, again, if earning the required amount, will be able to get 3-year visas and support partners onto work visas which has not, to date, been possible. So again, bring it on!

If wanting solid advice as to what all this means for you and any dependents, please feel free to contact me.

The full list of those occupations affected is here:

ANZSCO code and occupation

421111 Child Care Worker

421112 Family Day Care Worker

421114 Out of School Hours Care Worker

422116 Teachers' Aide

423411 Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant

423413 Refuge Worker

451111 Beauty Therapist

451412 Tour Guide

451612 Travel Consultant

451811 Civil Celebrant

452211 Bungy Jump Master

452212 Fishing Guide

452213 Hunting Guide

452214 Mountain or Glacier Guide

452215 Outdoor Adventure Instructor

452216 Trekking Guide

452217 Whitewater Rafting Guide

452299 Outdoor Adventure Guides nec

551211 Bookkeeper

552111 Bank Worker

552211 Credit or Loans Officer

711211 Industrial Spraypainter

711311 Paper Products Machine Operator

711313 Sawmilling Operator

711611 Sewing Machinist

711711 Footwear Production Machine Operator

711712 Hide and Skin Processing Machine Operator

711713 Knitting Machine Operator

711714 Textile Dyeing and Finishing Machine Operator

711715 Weaving Machine Operator

711716 Yarn Carding and Spinning Machine Operator

711799 Textile and Footwear Production Machine Operators nec

712111 Crane, Hoist or Lift Operator

712916 Paper and Pulp Mill Operator

712921 Waste Water or Water Plant Operator

721112 Logging Plant Operator

721913 Paving Plant Operator

731311 Train Driver

821711 Construction Rigger

423313 Personal Care Assistant

452311 Diving Instructor (Open Water)

591212 Import-Export Clerk

599611 Insurance Investigator

599612 Insurance Loss Adjuster

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/work-and-employment/list-of-anzsco-occupations-treated-as-an-exception