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Farmers are crying foul over modifications introduced by the Authorities this week to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme.
Federated Farmers dairy chair and immigration spokesman Richard McIntyre says the modifications “have brought on quite a lot of concern and confusion”.
Many farmers depend on migrant employees to work on dairy farms and orchards. McIntyre claims the modifications got here into drive instantly and can make issues lots more durable for farmers who’re making an attempt to herald workers from oversees.
The modifications embrace a shorter visa size of two years with a most steady keep interval of three years, and the introduction of a 12-month stand-down interval on the finish of the visa. There are additionally new minimal necessities with regards to expertise, work expertise, promoting roles, and fascinating with Work and Revenue.
McIntyre says Federated Farmers don’t help many of those modifications and have written to the Immigration Minister, Erica Stanford elevating considerations and requesting an pressing assembly to debate them.
“We’re involved that these sudden modifications will put quite a few farmers in a tough and unexpected scenario the place they’re unable to fill roles this season,” he says.
“It is a important concern. Workers shortages can have a big impact on well being & security, psychological wellbeing, and animal welfare.
“There may be additionally a danger that the standdown requirement will create a scenario the place expert workers, who farmers have invested in, are picked up by different nations.”
In keeping with Federated Farmers the important thing modifications to the AEWV scheme are centered on these migrant employees who’re getting into, or have entered, New Zealand to work in ANZSCO Stage 4 and 5 talent stage roles. These modifications apply from 7 April 2024. They embrace:
A shorter visa size of two years for many who utilized for his or her first AEWV after 7 April 2024, with a most steady keep interval of three years
The introduction of a 12-month stand-down interval on the finish of the AEWV for migrant employees
An English language requirement of migrant employees
A minimal expertise and work expertise requirement of migrant employees
A requirement to promote vacancies longer (rising from 14 days to 21 days) of employers; and
A requirement for employers to interact with Work and Revenue.
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