Kiwiana Immigration Newsletter - Feb 2024!
Highlights
Median wage changes and impacts
In this month newsletter we discuss about the recent updates regarding wage thresholds for various visa categories in New Zealand. Effective February 28, 2024, the government has announced adjustments aligned with the median wage, aiming to ensure fairness and address skill shortages while attracting the necessary workforce.
Key Changes:
Skilled Migrant Category, Green List Straight to Residence, Work to Residence, and Parent Category Residence Class Visas: The wage thresholds for these visa categories are set to increase, now aligned with the median wage of NZD$31.61 per hour.
Transport Sector Work to Residence Visa: Except for bus drivers, the wage threshold for this visa category will also see an increase in alignment with the updated median wage.
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): It's important to note that the wage rate for AEWV will remain unchanged at NZD$29.66 per hour, as announced by the government in December. This pause also extends to AEWV-linked work visas (The Partner of a Worker Work Visa, VOC for AEWV's, Legacy Essential Skills Work Visas, Interim Visas granted under the SMC and Migrant Exploitation Protection Visas) established at or indexed to the median wage rate since February 2023.
Implications:
Current AEWV Holders: Migrants currently holding an AEWV at the paused wage rate of NZD$29.66 per hour can continue accruing work experience for Skilled Residence, despite the increased wage requirements. However, they will need a job or job offer meeting the skilled residence pathway rate aligned with the median wage at the time of application.
Migrants who do not yet hold an AEWV and Migrants who plan to apply for Skilled Residence pathways in the future should be aware of the higher threshold of NZD$31.61 per hour, rather than the lower one required for an AEWV.
This pause in wage threshold adjustments is implemented to allow time for considering alternatives to the median wage threshold. The goal is to ensure the attraction of the necessary workforce to New Zealand while addressing genuine skill shortages effectively.
About Sector Agreement expiry dates
All sector agreements and exemptions tied to the median wage will continue as is, maintaining current wage rates, until further decisions are made regarding the utilization of the median wage within the AEWV framework.
Additionally, the expiration of the tourism and hospitality wage exemption, as well as the transport sector agreement, has been postponed.
For further inquiries or assistance regarding these changes, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to support you through any immigration process.
Our mailing address is:
Kiwiana Immigration, Suite 13, Level 2, 72 Dominion Road, Mt Eden, Auckland 1024, New Zealand
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