Philippines Warns Citizens About NZ Work-To-Residence Scheme

At last, some countries are wising-up about the dangers of the New Zealand 'work to residence system' and warning their citizens about the risks they may be taking by migrating, and then either being unable to find jobs, or having jobs effectively taken away from them and given to New Zealanders (see other posts tagged 'Jobs for Kiwi's)

According to an article by the immigration affairs reporter, Lincoln Tan, in the NZ Herald:

"Philippines consul-general Emilie Shi says Immigration New Zealand is not doing enough to warn would-be applicants about the difficulties of finding a job or telling them that Kiwis will be given preference by employers.
 
"Immigration New Zealand continues to say what a great place this country is to come live and work in, but they cover up the fact that it is very difficult to find a job here, or that they will be treated as second-class workers under the scheme," Ms Shi said.

"The work-to-residence is a myopic policy, because even if these migrants prove their worth in their jobs, employers cannot renew their contracts when their work permits expire, and have to first offer their jobs to Kiwis."

She said this made those who came on the work-to-residence scheme less attractive to local employers because they would not have "smooth continuity" in their business operations if they employed these migrant workers.....The embassy will be recommending to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to not allow any more of our citizens to come to New Zealand if they are not qualified, and we will be putting an advisory warning on the website."

This move is bound to cause significant embarrassment to the New Zealand government and may harm the country's carefully cultivated image as being a place that welcomes, values and cares for its overseas workers. We expect to see a counter-spin offensive launched soon.

We think that migrants that are attracted to work in NZ under schemes like this, and who are rendered penniless in the process because they can't find work, should be refunded the full costs of their visa applications and given expenses so that they can return home. If the work isn't there for them why are they still being encouraged to come? someone is making a lot of money from people whose lives are being ruined in the process.

Good on the Consul-General for blowing the whistle on this, perhaps more countries should think of doing the same?

A Kaitaia rest home is battling with immigration officials to keep an irreplacable Filipino woman with "skills as rare as hens teeth" after immigration refused to renew her work permit.The rest home manager is being forced to employ a Kiwi to do the work.

Migrants are important to the NZ economy. The migrant population of 927,000 people had a positive net fiscal impact of $3,288 million in the year to 30 June 2006. The net fiscal impact per head was $2,680 for recent migrants, $3,470 for intermediate migrants and $4,280 for earlier migrants. The net fiscal impact for the New Zealand-born population was $915 per head.

'Migrants treated like waste products' - "New Zealand is treating migrants like waste products using them and then throwing them away" says Wigram MP Jim Anderton.

Paradise turns sour for British migrants - "Jobless foreigners now risk losing their work visas and having to return to Britain."

Migrant Tales - A collection of migrants' first hand accounts of their experiences of living and working in New Zealand.

Today's posts - click here

"Migrants Treated Like Waste Products"

By Rebecca Todd - The Press

"New Zealand is treating migrants like waste products using them and then throwing them away, says Wigram MP Jim Anderton.

"They come under policies that allow and encourage them to come, and then when things turn bad we kind of dispose of them like a waste product," he said yesterday. "It's inhumane."

Anderton will attend a meeting today at Christchurch's Skilled Migrant Information and Resource Centre on fair treatment for migrants who are being forced out of New Zealand if they lose their jobs.

He said skilled migrants should be given time and help in finding another job if made redundant and should qualify for government assistance while unemployed.

Migrants in his electorate had been caught out by the change in economic conditions and were being told to head home.

"People come here in good faith with good skills to offer," Anderton said.

"It shouldn't be that long before things pick up again and we'll be after the same skills, but people burnt by this won't be enthusiastic about recommending New Zealand....." more here

Mr Anderton is a master of the understatement and news is already spreading fast with rumours that British newspaper "The Sun" is to investigate the affair.

Is the door closing on Skilled migration in New Zealand?

What isn't really coming out in some of the press reports is that some applications/renewals for visas are being made by migrants with job offers but they're turned down - despite them meeting all the necessary pre-requisites and having jobs that are either on the Long Term Skill Shortage List or the Immediate Skill Shortage List.

Filipino migrants threaten to become overstayers

Last month the plight of thousands of Filipino migrants threatened with expulsion from New Zealand was raised by the Philippine consul-general Emilie Shi. 30,000 Filipino migrants hold work permits or are on work to residence schemes.

She called on the NZ government to "have some compassion and human consideration" when workers were refused visa extensions. According to the Department of Labour there were New Zealanders available to do their work. But if New Zealanders are available for work why aren't they given the jobs - why were they offered to migrants? Could it be that there is still a skills shortage in New Zealand!

Some of the migrants threatened to remain in the country and work illegally, rather than be forced to return home and lose everything they owned. This led to calls from INZ for migrant support groups to "dob-in" (report) overstayers. Since then the problem has grown worse and migrants from other countries have become caught up in what many are starting to call NZ's new 'anti-immigration' policy.

See also:

Call to create fund for migrants

Paradise turns sour

British immigrants face a hostile reception after Maoris call for curb

For today's posts see: latest posts