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Seasonal work permits
The increased need for seasonal workers this year has led to Immigration New Zealand extending the pilot scheme it launched in December of last year to cope with demand
The seasonal work permit was supposed to run until July 2006, when the harvest season was expected to have ended. However, labour shortages in the sector have meant the government has extended the permit until 30th September 2006. The extension makes it possible for current permit holders to renew their permits, meaning employers retain the skilled workers already in the country. Those who wish to work under the permit, but who are not yet in New Zealand, are also eligible for the extension. Immigration Minister David Cunliffe was optimistic the extension would adequately meet the labour demand. "Ongoing assessments by the Ministry of Social Development mean we have a clear picture of labour supply in each region and are able to add or remove regions throughout the course of the pilot."
Currently, western Bay of Plenty, Marlborough, Nelson, Central Otago and Hawkes Bay are all on the absolute skills shortage regions for seasonal workers. Cunliffe continued, "Feedback from growers indicates this scheme is working well and that about 1,100 permits have been granted to date. "However, it's important to recognise that this is a short term measure to help address immediate labour shortages – operating in tandem with other measures to help employers access workers, such as Approval in Principles, variation of conditions on visitors' permits, and the Working Holiday Schemes."
The Department of Labour is working to simplify the process for applying for a Seasonal Work Permit, and will continue to aim to provide a 48 hour turnaround for applications. The Seasonal Workers Permit has traditionally been a popular choice with students and 'career break' travellers, though increasingly it has been a popular option, along with the Working Holiday Visa Scheme, for those going to New Zealand on fact-finding trips. The government is stressing that a speeding up of the process to grant more worker's permits will not result in a lowering of health or character checks.
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