New Zealand government is tightening up the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) in response to unsustainable net migration.
The Minister of Immigration, Erica Stanford announced a number of changes to AEWV yesterday, 7 April 2024 and these changes came into effect with immediate effect.
Changes would affect the migrant workers currently having an AEWV, and for new applicants as well.
The changes to AEWV will ensure New Zealand is attracting the skills it needs, and reducing the vulnerability of migrants to exploitation, according to the Immigration Minister.
“The Government is focused on attracting and retaining the highly skilled migrants such as secondary teachers, where there is a skill shortage. At the same time we need to ensure that New Zealanders are put to the front of the line for jobs where there are no skills shortages,” Stanford said.
“I am bringing in a suite of changes that will improve the AEWV scheme and ensure we are better testing the local labour market and reducing the risks of putting New Zealanders out of work.
“It is important that the AEWV settings facilitate the right mix of skilled temporary migrants to address genuine skill and labour shortages, support rebuilding the economy, and to help manage numbers and pressures on core infrastructure, such as schools, housing, and the health system.”
If you currently have an AEWV, these changes could affect, for example, how long you can stay before you need to spend time outside New Zealand or your eligibility to be granted a further AEWV.
If you applied for your first AEWV before 21 June 2023 and are in an ANZSCO level 4 and 5 job paying at or above the required AEWV wage rate, and currently hold a three year AEWV, you will no longer be able to access the maximum time of five years.
If you are in an ANZSCO level 4 and 5 job on a pathway to residence, you will not be affected by these changes.
If you apply for a further AEWV on or after 7 April 2024, you will have to meet the updated criteria. If you are in an ANZSCO level 4 and 5 job you may not be able to stay and work in New Zealand for the maximum time of five years.
There are changes for new AEWV applications also, including showing evidence of their work experience or qualifications, a standard of English for people applying to work in roles assessed as ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5 and a shorter stay in New Zealand if they are working in specific roles.
“These steps improve the scheme’s integrity and will help to prevent migrant exploitation, following recommendations from the recent Bestwick review, which found serious issues with the AEWV processes,” the Minister said.
“By having an English language requirement migrants will be better able to understand their rights or raise concerns about an employer early.
“The Work to Residence pathway for bus and truck drivers is also closing to new applicants, as the shortages of drivers reported when this was established have been filled.”
There are plans to add 11 roles to the Green List such as welders and fitters and turners.
It’s important we have accessible migration into New Zealand, not just to address job shortages but to build goodwill with foreign countries. We cannot continue marginalising migrant communities on the basis of English understanding.