New Zealand | Further changes for accredited employers announced

Immigration New Zealand is implementing changes for accredited employers, effective Oct. 7.

Key Points:

• At that time, accredited employers will need to provide the Work and Income department with a company contact person responsible for hiring decisions, such as a hiring manager, human resources manager or owner/operator for most ANZSCO Level 4 or 5 vacancies at the Job Check stage.
• The government expects accredited employers to engage directly at the Work and Income stage, removing the ability of immigration lawyers or licensed advisers to complete this information on behalf of employers.
• Officials noted the difficulty of engaging with employers about potential job applicants, as most Work and Income sections have only an immigration professional’s contact details, and stated that the change will encourage accredited employers to genuinely test the domestic labor market.

Additional Information: Accredited employers may still use external organizations to complete the Work and Income engagement process, provided that the organization remains involved in hiring decisions.

BAL Analysis: These changes are designed to address concerns raised by particular sectors for temporary work visas and improve the current processes.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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