Visas & Advice Detail
Working visa holders fear job cuts
Following the Australian government’s announcement of plans to reduce the country’s foreign worker intake by 14 per cent, British working visa holders in New Zealand have begun to express concerns over the safety of their jobs.
In a recent meeting of 100 migrant workers, unionists and migrant advocates, Dennis Maga, head of Migrante Aotearoa, said: "We have been receiving emails and phone calls from migrant workers who are truly worried because they think they can no longer renew their work permit."
Fears were roused when unions began to publicly petition the government about the numbers of migrants working in New Zealand. Manufacturing and Construction Workers Union general secretary Graeme Clarke told press that the union had been in touch with the government about companies continuing to employ migrant workers. The secretary of the Christchurch branch, Phil Yarrall, also said that the union complained to the Labour Department about jet boat manufacturer CWF Hamilton's decision to make 28 Kiwi workers redundant while retaining 24 migrant workers on temporary contracts.
However, New Zealand immigration minister Jonathan Coleman has spoken out to soothe migrant fears, denying that migrant workers would lose any rights during the recession. "There has been no change of policy under this government regarding renewal of temporary work permits," said a spokesperson for Coleman. "They are issued when there are no New Zealanders available, and that has always been the case. As unemployment rises, more Kiwis are available to fill jobs, therefore fewer temporary permits are issued or renewed - there is nothing new about that. What is new is that there are now more unemployed Kiwis available.
"Any foreign worker who is here on a temporary work permit has the right to work while that permit remains valid. There has been no suggestion by this government that foreign workers should be sacked ahead of New Zealanders in situations where the foreign workers have valid, current permits."
So, it seems that the jobs and visas of migrant workers are – for the moment – safe.