About 200 employers in New Zealand have had their license to hire migrants revoked or suspended, while a further 167 employers are currently under investigation by the government agency, Immigration New Zealand, amid concerns raised in June of last year related to potential work visa abuse.
Following Immigration New Zealand’s investigation, since June last year, 136 employers have had their accreditation revoked, while another 51 have had theirs suspended, VisaGuide.World reports.
Concerns were raised for migrant workers from India, China, and Bangladesh to be living in cramped and unsanitary conditions. Local media reports noted that migrants claimed to have paid thousands of dollars for work visas, only to be left with little to no work.
Before hiring employees from overseas, employers should consider some important things, including ensuring that there are no New Zealanders who can do the job and checking that the visa gives them the right to work in this country.
There are several options that New Zealand offers for hiring migrants, including Accredited Employer Work Visa, through which employers are eligible to get accreditation to use the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) to hire migrants on visas for up to five years. In order to hire migrants, employers must pay at least the NZ median wage unless their role is included on an exemption list, other options include:
- Entertainment
- Fishing
- Horticulture, agriculture and viticulture
When hiring migrants, employers must comply with employment and immigration laws, under which they have certain responsibilities and obligations, as emphasized by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.
As an employer, you’ll want to assist your migrant employees so they can start work and transition into your workplace and their new community as easily as possible.
Simultaneously, employers must ensure they follow the law when hiring migrants who want to work in New Zealand and those already working for NZ employers.
The Ministry highlights that NZ employment law applies equally to migrants, citizens, and residents of this country.
Employers are required to offer migrants the same work conditions as New Zealanders, including employment agreements, minimum pay, breaks, holidays, sick leave, parental leave, and a safe workplace. In addition, employers also must keep accurate records of pay and holidays.
If they violate employment rules, they will be put on a list of rule-breaking employers, thus being ineligible to support visa applications for a certain period. The list is kept by the Labour Inspectorate as part of a wider plan to halt the mistreatment of migrants.
Employers who receive an employment-standards sanction will be placed on the non-compliant employers list for a period of time commensurate with the severity of the sanction imposed.
Migrant employees will be eligible to continue their employment. However, they will not be able to support any further visas or apply for employer status such as accreditation or approval in principle.