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This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
Queenstown companies are welcoming new changes aimed at helping recruitment, but say they are not changing the rules of the game.
Immigration New Zealand announced that 21 tourism and hospitality positions have been added to the under-supply list for Queenstown Lakes in response to the lack of New Zealanders available to fill jobs.
The change means it will be easier to hire unemployed migrants to work as waiters, cleaners, chefs, tour guides and other roles by allowing employers to endorse a work visa application for roles paid below the median salary.
Queenstown restaurant owner and chef Darren Lovell recently tried to advertise a full-time position at Work and Income, but no one applied.
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He thought it would be easier to find staff after the waves of layoffs, but found the opposite had happened.
“A lot of people instantly lost their jobs and I think a lot of the workers who do the cleaning jobs in hotels, who work as waiters and cooks and cooks … they just left town because they were scared and no one has moved to replace them. “Lovell said.
The sigh of relief was almost audible from companies when changes to the under-bid list were announced yesterday, he said.
But it was unlikely he would change anything for his businesses, Fishbone and Love Chicken, at this point.
“The difficulty with sponsoring a member of staff is that you have to guarantee 30 hours a week and that is very difficult at the moment. You get these little spikes in the number of tourists and hopefully Christmas, New Years will be a bit busy, but not busy enough to warrant adding more staff, “Lovell said.
One in 10 staff members at Queenstown’s iconic Fergburger is typically a resident of New Zealand, but with border closures and the Covid-19 lockdown, that has risen to one in three.
Group CEO Stephen Bradley had no illusions about the recently announced changes.
Gergburger Group CEO Stephen Bradley had no illusions about the recently announced changes.
“It saves us a bit of time. It is not a game changer, it is not a repairman. It is just a helper, so it will give us the opportunity to keep a little more critical staff and make their visa processing easier,” he said. said.
With 130 employees on the books, he said the business was almost ready for the summer.
“Often traditionally in hospitality, you get some resignations before Christmas, New Years period with two or three weeks for the notice period. So yeah, we still need more people, so the rules will help us get those people”.
Queenstown Chamber of Commerce Chairman Craig Douglas found 106 job openings in the local weekly this week, saying it had been fairly consistent over the past few weeks.
“It’s a big request for people to move for a job that could have a varied schedule. The employer is uncertain about giving people permanent full-time jobs right now because they don’t know what the demand will be like in the next few weeks. or the next few months. “
This is where work and holiday visa holders often step in, but with borders closed, they needed the help of the government.
He was pleased that the government listened to his concerns and acted.
“It makes it easier for employers to employ people on a sponsored visa to fill those roles. It just simplifies the process up to a point, it doesn’t increase the size of the workforce in any way. But it simplifies the process and so that takes away a burden on the employer and the work they’ve had to do to try to retain their sponsored workers and hire new ones, “said Douglas.
Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult said the change opened the door for migrant workers who were restricted by their visa conditions.
The council received more than 5,000 applications for social assistance from holders of short-term and working visitor visas from the end of March to early July before the government took over support.
About 1,000 jobless migrant workers stay in Queenstown.
“They have been living with government support for some time. But I mean the logic of this is that instead of the government having to support them, this allows them to take jobs that are available, that Kiwis don’t. are available or have not taken. ” and an income.
“The feedback I get from all these people is that they would rather work than live off a profit,” said Boult.
While Queenstown businesses are grateful for the change, they expect the review of visa extensions that run out in early 2021 to be next on the government’s list.
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
