In an effort to make New Zealand’s immigration rules fairer and safer, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford has announced some changes to the Accredited Employer Worker Visa (AEWV) scheme. This is a big deal because it’s all about finding the right balance between letting skilled workers come to New Zealand and making sure Kiwis get job opportunities too.

Stanford is really passionate about this because she believes that getting immigration right is super important for helping our economy grow. She wants to make sure that we bring in skilled people, like secondary school teachers, who can help fill the gaps where we don’t have enough workers. But at the same time, she wants to make sure that Kiwis are first in line for jobs when there are plenty of people here who can do them.

So, these changes are about making sure everyone gets a fair go. It’s not just about bringing in lots of workers from other countries; it’s about making sure those workers are treated well and that Kiwis aren’t missing out on opportunities they could have. It’s all part of building a better future for New Zealand, where everyone has a chance to succeed.

Key changes include

1. The introduction of English language requirements for migrants applying for low-skilled roles at levels 4 and 5
2. A minimum skills and work experience criteria
3. Employers seeking to fill level 4 and 5 positions must engage with Work and Income before migrant approvals
4. The maximum continuous stay for such roles will be reduced from 5 to 3 years
5. The franchisee accreditation category will also be disbanded, and businesses will need to follow standard, high-volume, or triangular employment accreditation processes to hire overseas workers.

Source:

Economic Times