Migrant News Dec 2017

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Govt pushes up income threshold
for residency and Work Skill Visas
By SANDEEP SINGH
WELLINGTON - Immigration
New Zealand
(INZ) lifted the minimum
income threshold for residency
and Essential Skill
Work Visa applicants
earlier this month.
The INZ website mentions
that the thresholds
are indexed against the
New Zealand median
income and as previously
announced, remuneration
requirements are to
be updated at the end of
each calendar year based
on New Zealand income
data (which is released in
September).
This year the changes
have been delayed until
January to give employers
and migrants enough
time to adjust to the new
thresholds.
The change in thresholds,
though largely
expected as per previous
announcements by INZ,
will bring further distress
to many applicants who
are already struggling
with the recently introduced
minimum income
threshold requirement
for residency and essential
skill work visas.
In April this year the
then Immigration Minister
Michael Woodhouse
introduced a minimum
income threshold of
$41,537.60 for being eligible
for an Essential Skill
Work Visa.
A minimum income
threshold of $48,859.20
was introduced for resident
visa applications
under the Skilled Migrant
Category (SMC).
This essentially means
that an applicant seeking
residency on the basis of
mid-skilled level employment
will have to have a
minimum annual income
of $48,860.
These changes were
implemented by INZ
from August 15.
Then INZ has quietly
increased the minimum
income requirement for
essential skill work visas
from $41,537.60 to
$42,952 and for resident
visas from the current
$48,859.20 to $50,523.20.
Annual income is calculated
for a standard 40
hour week for 52 weeks in
a year.
The changes in minimum
income threshold
will come into effect from
January 15, 2018.
The INZ website says
that visas that people
already hold will not be
affected.
The changes to the
income thresholds will
not affect the duration or
conditions of visas that
have already been granted.
However, a new application
made on or after
15 January will be
assessed against the new
threshold.
This may mean that the
conditions or visa duration
of the next visa could
be different.
For example, a chef
paid $20 an hour would
currently be considered
mid-skilled, as the occupation
is ANZSCO level 2
and the pay is above the
existing threshold of
$19.97.
However, if he applied
for a further visa after 15
January he would be considered
low skilled, unless
his pay increased to
above the new threshold
of $20.65.
Changes in Skilled
Migrant Category (Resident
Visa)
Threshold for skilled
employment in an occupation
at ANZSCO 1-3
Threshold Prior to
15 January: $23.49 per
hour or above (or the
equivalent annual salary)
From 15 January :
$24.29 per hour or above
(or the equivalent annual
salary)
Changes in Essential
kills work visa category
Threshold for midskilled
employment in an
occupation at ANZSCO
1-3
Threshold Prior to
15 January : $19.97 per
hour or above (or the
equivalent annual salary)
From 15 January :
$20.65 per hour or above
(or the equivalent annual
salary)
Editor – This article first
appeared in the Indian
Weekender.
Labour has no mandate
for immigration crackdown?
“Labour, supported by NZ First, have indicated that
they will reduce migration numbers by setting their
target around 30,000 per annum.” - June Ranson
The New Zealand Association
for Migration and Investment
(NZAMI), an association for
immigration advisers, believes that
there is no mandate for the new
Labour-led coalition Government’s
proposed crackdown on immigration.
“Labour, supported by NZ First,
have indicated that they will reduce
migration numbers by setting their
target at around 30,000 per annum.
“What does this mean? 30,000
students, workers or residents?”
questions NZAMI chair June
Ranson, who notes that the new
Government has said that it will
welcome skilled migrants.
Ms Ranson says that the Greens
electioneered on more of an opendoor
policy towards immigration
and that they did not agree to
reducing migrant numbers.
“Does this mean that they have
changed their mind as, based on the
facts we have, there is no mandate
in place.
“The Labour-led coalition
Government we now have is virtually
a minority Government as the
Greens are currently staying outside
of the coalition cabinet and
NZAMI chair
June Ranson
only have
supply
agreements.
“If the
Greens are
going to
stay with
their current
policy
of allowing
immigration,
then how will the new
Government be able to implement
their policy of reducing migrant
numbers? The new Government
will have a very strong opposition
party with experienced politicians.
Where do the Greens fit in on
this?” she comments.
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P a g e 0 2 w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I M i g r a n t N e w s : W e l c o m e t o N e w Z e a l a n d E x p o I Migrant Job Board
Major bureaucratic flaws in
New Zealand's immigration system
opinion
By AARON MARTIN
Auckland
immigration lawyer
Aaron Martin says
that he knows from
extensive
experience with
clients exactly
where the
frustrations and
incompetencies of
the current
process lie.
He has some
suggestions for the
new Government
about where its
focus should be
when it comes to
immigration.
The Labour Party election
campaign focused on
positive messages. So I
eagerly looked forward to
an equally positive message
from the new
Minister of Immigration.
But in an article on the
Newsroom website on 1
December the Minister
started on a negative: the
immigration system was
broken and required
more money to catch
those who try to shaft it.
The Minister and the
department’s time and
money would be better
spent looking at some of
the major bureaucratic
flaws in our current system.
For example, does the
Minister realise that it
takes six months for an
applicant’s National Security
Check to be sent to
Immigration New Zealand?
Imagine the frustration
of applicants (and staff):
the application is completed
and ready for
approval, but everyone
has to then wait for six
months until the National
Security Check is received.
Or perhaps some money
could be devoted to
resolving the ludicrous
situation in regard to
medical referrals.
At the moment, if a person
applies for both a
work visa and a residence
visa and their medical
check shows a health condition,
they must submit
two separate referrals to
the health assessment
team - one for each application.
Most people would
think that both of those
referrals could go to the
assessment team at the
same time. Oh, no. It’s
one at a time, please.
Why can’t the medical
assessors look at both at
the same time?
The process of sending
medical information to be
reviewed by a medical
assessor and getting the
results back takes about
four weeks. If the 'result'
is a request for further
medical tests then it can
then take another couple
of weeks to get those
reviewed. I usually advise
clients to brace themselves
for eight weeks for
the whole process.
An applicant can ask
for the process to be fasttracked,
but the answer is
always the same: "It’s a
process that involves a
third-party supplier and
once it goes to that supplier
Immigration New Zealand
has no control over
time frames."
Maybe the Minister
could remind the thirdparty
supplier who pays
the bill? And perhaps the
service-level agreements
need to be reviewed?
Structural improvements
that speed up decision-making
timeframes
would be of significant
benefit to both visa applicants
and employers.
The service needs major
improvement. Fixing
service problems might
also increase the job satisfaction
of the dedicated
team who work in border
control.
So, Minister, how about
using money for something
"relentlessly positive"
for the law-abiding
people while you are at it,
instead of just focusing on
the crooks?
Editor - Aaron Martin is
the Principal Immigration
Lawyer at New Zealand
Immigration Law.
WELLINGTON - Work
Connect, the programme to
help skilled migrants adapt
to the New Zealand job market,
is being extended across
New Zealand after a successful
Auckland pilot.
Work Connect national
manager, Gary Basham,
says that Work Connect
helps international students
as well as skilled migrants
and their partners to prepare
for the New Zealand workforce.
“We hear from clients all
the time about their challenges
in understanding how
the Kiwi job market works
and in how to get a job here.
“Work Connect helps
skilled migrants to prepare
for the workforce, so they
can use the experience and
qualifications they have
brought to New Zealand.”
Work Connect is free of
charge to eligible skilled
migrants and includes 10
hours of job search coaching
and employment mentoring.
The programme includes
personalised one-to-one
‘Work Connect’ helps
skilled migrants adapt
to the NZ job market
Auckland pilot cements the
Work Connect roll out.
coaching, help with refining
a CV and cover letter
matched to the roles applied
for, help finding jobs and
understanding how to communicate
with employers
and how to be successful at
interviews.
In the last year more than
200 migrants benefited from
the Auckland pilot.
“Auckland was a very successful
pilot and the support
is there to bring it to
Wellington, Hamilton and
Christchurch by the end of
the year,” says Gary.
“The key thing to grow the
programme is to get more
employers involved.
"If you’re an employer of
skilled migrants, there are
likely to be partners or family
members struggling to
find work as well and they
may benefit from Work
Connect.
“Our aim is to build the
knowledge, skills and confidence
of skilled migrants, so
that they can adapt to the
Kiwi job market and find a
role that suits their needs.”
Joanne is the partner of a
skilled migrant and is another
Work Connect client success
story. Originally from
China, Joanne had been in
New Zealand for two
months and held a Bachelor
of Purchase and Supply
Chain Management degree.
Although she had a very
positive and professional
attitude, Joanne lacked confidence
with speaking
English in New Zealand.
She remained very nervous
and naturally reserved.
Through the Work Connect
programme a consultant
revamped her CV and cover
letter and provided her with
one-to-one coaching around
how to communicate and be
comfortable with talking at a
business professional level.
Joanne also practised interview
role-playing.
Consultants also supported
her in researching organisations
and people to
approach who might have
the right kind of job available.
The practice sessions
continued to build her confidence
and Joanne ended up
talking to five companies
she was interested in working
for. This eventually led
to her gaining a job in procurement
with one of them.
If you are a New Zealand
skilled migrant or an employer
of New Zealand
migrants and
the Work
Connect programme
sounds like
something
you would
be interested
in, we would
love to hear
applies.
from you.
Eligibility
criteria
Visit the Work Connect
page online or call 0800 222
733.

w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I M i g r a n t N e w s : W e l c o m e t o N e w Z e a l a n d E x p o I Migrant Job Board
P a g e 0 3
B Y A B H A R A O
Run a little faster,
jump a little higher
Coming to a new country
is fairly disorienting for a
new migrant. With a shaky
grasp of English and an even
shakier grasp of the local
culture, they are strongly
disadvantaged in the job
market.
The Advanced Career
Planning Workshop organised
exclusively during the
Migrant News - Welcome
to NZ Expo held nationwide,
reaches out to the disenfranchised
newcomers
and gives them a step into
the employment world.
In the course of the seminar,
participants are led
through CV and cover letter
writing, searching for jobs
through various media
sources, interview strategies,
employment contracts, and
even Kiwi English.
Participants come in
jaded, tired, and losing hope,
but by the end of the seminar,
they are more confident
and prepared to face the real
world.
Why is it so difficult to
find a job? A native Kiwi
takes, on average, three
months to find a job - this
figure is exaggerated for
migrants. Part of the problem,
is that the jobs generated
are often in very specific
fields, such as senior hairdressers
or yacht riggers.
Employers spend only
seven seconds looking at one
application, and the key is
New Zealand experience
and English communication
skills. Applicants with little
or no experience, or poor
English skills, are dismissed
summarily.
The NZ Experience issue
is akin to the chicken and
egg problem. Without NZ
experience, it seems impossible
to get a job, but without
a job, how does one go about
gaining NZ experience? A
new migrant has to gain
experience through a volunteer
job - although it is difficult
for a new comer to
spend a few months without
pay, the eventual returns are
well worth it. They can also
work through a contractor or
a temp agency.
As for improving English,
the new migrant needs to
register with the local college
or ESOL for classes. He
or she also has to spend time
outside talking with locals,
and listening to the local
radio and watching local television
to try and improve
their knowledge of English
and its accent.
Another important, but
often overlooked factor is
presentation. Proper presentation
is essential - whether
in the form of a CV or cover
letter, a telephone conversation,
or in the shape of an
interview.
They all need to be clean,
neat, confident, and without
excess. They have to show
that the applicant is all there,
and perfect for the job.
Not surprisingly, a large
section of the job search
seminars are devoted to this.
Participants saw slides of
CVs and cover letters written
by other people, and
through discussion, decided
what was and was not needed,
such as age and residential
status.
They need to have confidence
when they answer the
phone, and this confidence
needs to be evident to the
caller. While New Zealand is
a fairly informal society, it is
imperative to dress formally
for a prospective job, for a
well-dressed person shows
preparedness.
A sensitive, but significant
topic, is prejudice. Kiwis
are, in general, friendly people,
but an unfortunate number
are prejudiced against
migrants.
They may mistake lack of
English as lack of knowledge,
or poorly accented
English as stupidity. They
may also be acting out of
fear, or self-protection of
one’s jobs or interests. Some
participants also believed
that their dark skin worked
against them. Since changes
in attitude take a long time;
the best that one can do is to
show their friendly face to
society. This may convince
any potential employer that
your position is non-threatening,
and even advantageous.
The seminars are as much
lecturing as participation.
All the participants actively
involved themselves in discussions
and exercises, and
all of them like the interactive
nature of the seminar.
Education Booth at the
‘Migrant News’ Welcome
to NZ Expo
The participants may be
asked to complete assignments
such as completing
their CV or contact list, by
searching through various
sources for jobs. Each participant
is given individual
feedback on their exercises
and provided contact names
and numbers by the director
of the program. Practical
concerns like the Employment
Relations Act and
minimum wages are also
discussed.
On the last day a little
Maori culture may be shared
with them.
The seminar was about
finding a job, but it was not
just about finding a job.
Everyone was given confidence
and faith in their abilities,
strategies to overcome
obstacles, hope to find the
perfect job, and a few
laughs.
Editor - The Advanced
Career Planning Workshop is
an upgraded version of the
‘OrientatioNZ Job Search
Seminars’ run by Mel
Fernandez since 1991.
It was one of the first program’s
of its kind designed
specifically for newcomers.
KEEP AN EYE ON
MIGRANT ISSUES!
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be ASIANS BY 2021.
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Keep tabs by subscribin to:
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MIGRANT NEWS
- migrantnews.nz
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P a g e 0 4 w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I M i g r a n t N e w s : W e l c o m e t o N e w Z e a l a n d E x p o I Migrant Job Board
The Need for Better Immigration Controls
(from a migrant’s perspective)*
opinion
By LOUIE ENCABO
While the prospect of being sent back to your country of origin is frightening, it is
even worse to be stuck in a foreign country living like a slave.
Such is the fate of migrant workers who fall victim to exploitative employers, which
has seen a rise in recent years.
Immigration is undoubtedly
the hottest
issue of this election cycle.
Traditionally it was
only New Zealand First
who made immigration
reform a centrepiece of
their campaign platform;
this time around we see
National, Labour and the
Greens doing the same.
To us migrants this can
be a reason for discomfort.
When we hear of
plans to raise the minimum
income threshold
for permanent residency
or when we hear of the
government cracking
down on migrant workers
violating their given visa
conditions we feel as
though we are under
attack.
The truth, however, is
that stricter immigration
laws could actually benefit
us foreign-born New
Zealanders as well as
those who are here only
on temporary visas.
While the prospect of
being sent back to your
country of origin is frightening,
it is even worse to
be stuck in a foreign country
living like a slave.
Such is the fate of migrant
workers who fall victim to
exploitative employers,
which has seen a rise in
recent years.
We hear about this happening
regularly: a starry-eyed
foreign worker
seeking a better life in
New Zealand, only to
have their passport confiscated
by their employer
and to be forced to work
with no pay and cruel
work conditions. These
migrants are now stuck;
unable to even voluntarily
return to their home
countries.
Such a scenario is made
possible by a lax immigration
policy; a system
where employers are
given free rein to import
workers from abroad
without proper checks
and regulations.
Thankfully that system
is being overhauled; the
sitting government is taking
measures to put
restrictions on hiring
overseas workers. First by
introducing a pay threshold
for permanent residency.
This is to discourage
migrant workers from
taking jobs that will pay
them less than the minimum
wage, a common
practice by domestic
employers.
This is a common
scheme of exploitative
employers, who connive
with the worker to take a
much lower pay discreetly.
The victim agrees,
thinking that it would be a
temporary arrangement
and would cement their
status in New Zealand,
only to be needing rescue
further down the line
when the employer becomes
more abusive.
For us migrants who
* These articles first appeared in Fiipino Migrant News
FLASHBACK!
have earned permanent
status here in New
Zealand, curtailing the
demand for foreign workers
will also help our
plight. More and more
local jobseekers are
unable to compete in the
labour market since competition
comes from all
over the world.
The common refrain we
hear from these employers
is that they are unable
to find workers domestically,
with some adding
salt to the wound by brandishing
local workers as
'lazy' and according to a
former Prime Minister,
even 'drug-addled'.
The truth is, there are
124,000 unemployed New
Zealanders at present. It
is hard to believe that
such a large number of
people are merely lazy or
drug-dependent. That
number comprises all
unemployed New Zealanders
by the way, even
us who are foreign-born.
By lowering the number
of foreign workers coming
in we force employers to
take a harder look at
those of us who are unemployed
and are already in
the country.
This will also ease
demand on basic services
such as public transport,
education facilities and
housing – all of which are
severely underfunded and
struggling to cope with
current demand.
To put it succinctly,
more stringent immigration
requirements are not
always bad news for us
foreign-born New Zealanders.
In fact, in these
times of rampant migrant
exploitation and with a
local workforce struggling
to find work they
are absolutely necessary.
* Louie Encabo was a
Filipino-Kiwi Hero Award
winner for Journalism in
2015.
By Mel Fernandez
All out war with OFW exploiters*
A Duterte-style clenched
fist is being thrust squarely
at OFW exploiters in New
Zealand and overseas. The
message to these wrong
doers is - desist or face the
wrath of the community plus
a blitzkrieg by a host of government
agencies. The bad
guys are on notice - they will
be exposed, shamed publicly
and punished. In the process
it is hoped that justice will
be served for the aggrieved
parties.
In recent months the
Philippine Embassy in
New Zealand, the NZ
Police, the Inland Revenue
Department, Immigration
NZ, Education NZ, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the Commerce Commission,
NGOs, Unionists,
community groups and
even mainstream media outlets
have been working in
concert to stem the tide of
rampant OFW exploitation
that has left heaps of
Filipinos out of pocket and
often in dire straits.
“Migrant exploitation is a
multi-faceted and complex
issue that requires a multifaceted
and coordinated
response,” said Equal Employment
Opportunities
Commissioner Dr. Jackie
Blue.
“We are keen to see that
these new measures (announced
by the Minister of
Immigration) are just the
start of actions aimed at
addressing what is a significant
problem – particularly
in our dairy, horticultural,
hospitality and international
education industries.”
Fortunately, in the war
against OFW exploiters it is
the Philippine Embassy that
is leading the charge. The
Philippine Ambassador to
New Zealand, Jesus S
Domingo, who has just
completed about ten months
in this country, is known for
his ‘hands-on approach in
dealing with issues’.
He told FMN that: “The
Embassy is working closely
with the NZ Government, its
Consulates in Auckland and
Christchurch and NZ and
Filipino Community NGOs
(including Migrante Aotearoa)
to combat abuses
against OFWs, particularly
with regards to Labour
Recruitment, Education
Trafficking and Balikbayan
Box Crime.
“Besides providing assistance
to the victims of
Balikbayan Box Crime the
Embassy is developing a
Code of Conduct for
providers of this service.
In the pipeline is the setting-up
of a website/bulletin
board which will allow customers
to air their concerns
and warn others of shoddy
service.
Philippine Ambassador
Jesus S. Domingo
“In the area of education
trafficking the Embassy is
lobbying with the NZ
Government and counterpart
Philippine government
agencies to punish erring
Immigration Advisers (IAs)
and the Schools which have
defrauded students and to
push for the regulation of
'Education Advisers' (EAs).
“Like for Balikbayan Box
Crime we are developing
Codes of Conduct for the
concerned Schools, IAs and
EAs and a Complaint
Website. We are meeting
with and assisting many of
the victims and asking for
their help to identify the perpetrators
- Schools, IAs and
EAs.
“Regarding general assistance
to Filipino workers,
the Embassy and Consulates
continue to work closely and
are in dialogue with the NZ
Government, Employers,
Unions, worker groups, etc.
to follow up the Philippine
Government's request to
establish a residential Philippine
Overseas Labour
Office (POLO) in NZ.”

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Name/Company .....................................................................................
Address .................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
Amount paid .................................... cheque payable to SM Publications Ltd
or Direct Credit to SM Publications, ASB Bank Acct No: 123 042 0427727 00
or Paypal: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz / or send us an email requesting an Invoice
your email address............................................or tel................................
* Rates quoted for mail delivery in New Zealand; this is a promotional rate for a limited period only