Know About A New Work Visa For Migrant Workers
Temporary work visas have undergone substantial changes that both workers and employers should be aware of. The government will introduce a new temporary work visa called the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) from 1 November 2021.
What is changing & why is it changing?
These six current work visas will be replaced by the Accredited Employer Work Visa:
Essential Skills Work Visa
Essential Skills Work Visa — approved in principle
Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa
Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa
Silver Fern Job Search Visa (closed 7 October 2019
Silver Fern Practical Experience Visa
The objective is to make the application process simpler for employers, making it easier for them to fill genuine skill shortages in the market. The changes will reinforce employer requirements to combat migrant exploitation, and they will also encourage employers to focus on training and upskilling New Zealanders.
What does this mean for employers?
Before hiring a migrant on an Accredited Employer Work Visa, employers must be accredited. To be eligible, they must first register with the government, then apply for a job check to ensure the role cannot be done by a New Zealander, then the employer must request the migrant to apply for a visa.
What does this mean for workers?
The new visa process is led by the employer who offers the employment, but the migrant worker must apply for the visa on their own in the final phase. Before you apply for a work visa, your potential employer must complete the employer accreditation and job check.
If you have a current temporary work visa, you will not be affected as long as you comply with the terms of your visa and it stays valid. If you are applying for Residence from a Work visa (which requires a subsequent Work to Residence visa to be granted residence), you will be able to continue the procedure if you stay with your current job.
There are three checks in the new system
Before an employer can hire a migrant worker, the AEWV system will require three checks:
The Employer Check
On the new system, only accredited employers are allowed to hire migrant workers. There are two levels of accreditation: standard (for up to five employees) and high-volume (for more than five employees).
The employer check will replace three current employer schemes:
>Approval in principle (AIP) before an employer hires workers on an Essential Skills Work Visa.
>Accreditation as a Talent Accredited Employer, and
>Labour Hire employers’ accreditation for essential skills works visas.
Job Check
The job check will examine the position the worker is applying for, ensuring that it pays a fair wage, complies with NZ’s employment laws and that the employer, have has done everything possible to fill the position with a New Zealander.
A job check is paid for by the employer, and he can only recruit a migrant worker if the job check is successful.
Migrant Worker Check
The migrant worker check is the final step in the process, and it verifies that the candidate fits all character, identification, and health standards, as well as the abilities and experience specified in the employer’s job check application.
How to Become an Accredited Employer
When employers want to start hiring migrants on AEWVs, they merely need to be accredited under the new system. If a business already employs migrants on the current temporary work visa, it is not required to become accredited until it wishes to hire someone on the new visa.
You can apply for accreditation starting in September 2021, two months before the new system goes into effect, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to hire right away.
Employers must be well-informed ahead of the changes’ implementation, and with details still being worked out, it’s worth keeping an eye on the Government’s official website for updates. If you want to know anything about this matter & Immigration NZ, contact Immigration Advisers New Zealand, the top immigration lawyer Tauranga. You can call at +64 9 379 0219 or mail contact@nzimmigration.info right now.
