An immigration adviser is calling for a rethink on how long-term migrant workers are treated, saying up to 6000 in the South Island face an uncertain future.
Ashburton-based Maria Jimenez says these migrants are employed in healthcare, hospitals, construction and agriculture and have an expectation they could apply for residency after meeting work criteria.
Because of covid’s impact on the immigration office, the Government suspended Expressions of Interest (EOI) selections for the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) last year, closing a pathway to residency for many migrants.
The Government is also resetting immigration policy in a move to reduce the reliance on imported workers.
Jimenez is launching a petition seeking a South Island residency pathway for migrants holding a work visa, which is applicable after five years working here.
Previously there was a specific visa for South Island migrants, which led to residency, but this was abandoned with the arrival of covid.
She says reinstating such a pathway will provide certainty and recognise their contribution.
“It will give certainty to people who have been here for five years and they have shown they have the skills that has helped the country through covid, so why not keep them?” Jimenez asked.
She has not had a response from the Government to her suggestion.
Data provided by Immigration NZ reveals that as at March 2020, the primary sector with 1767 people, has the greatest number of Essential Skills and Work to Residence visa holders.
Nationally, 5759 people hold these visas.
The service sector is the next most reliant with 1586 people, followed by construction at 839.
As of the same date there were 19,925 primary sector work visa holders (Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE), Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) and fishing crew), of which 7161 were RSE workers and 3081 SSE.
In total, the Government extended the duration of 40,121 work visa holders as part of the covid-19 response.
Immigration NZ general manager of border and visa operations Nicola Hogg says data is not collected on why visa holders leave NZ.
“Therefore, we cannot say how many migrant workers on work visas have left NZ since the start of this calendar year due to being unable to have their residence application considered,” Hogg said.
She says the Government regularly reviews its immigration settings to account for the global situation and how it can provide more certainty for workers and employers.
