Temporary migrant workers stranded overseas, also expect similar govt consideration as for new international students
The government's active consideration for letting-in new international students to support the $5 billion strong international education industry despite strict border closure is causing some dismay and anxiety amongst the temporary migrant workers who are stranded overseas for not getting similar active consideration by the government.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins has told the media on Thursday, May 7 that the government was actively considering giving “exemptions” to the international students and was working closely with the universities, educational institutions and industry partners.
The New Zealand border is currently closed to almost all travellers to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Only New Zealand citizens and residents returning to New Zealand may travel to New Zealand and do not need any formal exemption, rest all others, including work visa holders are required to get an “exemption.”
Currently, thousands of temporary migrant workers who have been otherwise living, working and supporting New Zealand’s economy through their skilled jobs, by paying rents, bills and loans, along with supporting businesses, are now locked out of the borders, facing huge uncertainty about their future life in the country.
According to the latest update, Immigration New Zealand has now received 6,912 expressions of interest (EOI) from people who believe they meet exceptions to the border closure. Of the 6,859 EOIs decided so far, 1,437 meet the criteria and have been invited to apply for a visa.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins
It is important to note that while most of these temporary migrant workers see New Zealand as their immediate home where they have made huge financial and emotional investments in the recent past, they are largely feeling left-behind when others are either well supported or their interests being actively considered by the government.
Many of them have been missing out on the government’s wage subsidy, have lost their jobs due to Covid-19 related redundancies or even worse are not able to start their jobs again as they are not allowed back in the country owing to strict border closure measures in place.
Sadly, either there is not enough consideration being given by the government to their plight, or if being considered, then it is not being adequately communicated to this important section of New Zealand’s workforce as is the case for others.
Notably, a few days ago some union representatives and the workers had a zoom meeting with the Immigration Minister Iain Lees Galloway to discuss the concerns of these stranded temporary migrant workers, but nothing concrete has emerged so far as a policy response from the government.
As opposed to this, Education Minister Chris Hipkins is now flagging the possibility of getting “exemptions” and allowing new international students back into New Zealand before the border reopens.
The news though encouraging as it reflects signs of return of some semblance of normalcy in the post Covid-19 world has rightly caused some dismay among a large number of temporary migrant workers, most of whom where earlier international students themselves and are currently stranded overseas for no fault of their own and not being allowed to return back in the country.
However, temporary migrant workers, of whom many work in essential services, and still have not been allowed back in the country as they do not qualify within the “criticality” aspect for immigration purposes are pleading the government to provide similar consideration for them also.
The government's active consideration for letting-in new international students to support the $5 billion strong international education industry despite strict border closure is causing some dismay and anxiety amongst the temporary migrant workers who are stranded overseas for not getting similar...
The government's active consideration for letting-in new international students to support the $5 billion strong international education industry despite strict border closure is causing some dismay and anxiety amongst the temporary migrant workers who are stranded overseas for not getting similar active consideration by the government.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins has told the media on Thursday, May 7 that the government was actively considering giving “exemptions” to the international students and was working closely with the universities, educational institutions and industry partners.
The New Zealand border is currently closed to almost all travellers to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Only New Zealand citizens and residents returning to New Zealand may travel to New Zealand and do not need any formal exemption, rest all others, including work visa holders are required to get an “exemption.”
Currently, thousands of temporary migrant workers who have been otherwise living, working and supporting New Zealand’s economy through their skilled jobs, by paying rents, bills and loans, along with supporting businesses, are now locked out of the borders, facing huge uncertainty about their future life in the country.
According to the latest update, Immigration New Zealand has now received 6,912 expressions of interest (EOI) from people who believe they meet exceptions to the border closure. Of the 6,859 EOIs decided so far, 1,437 meet the criteria and have been invited to apply for a visa.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins
It is important to note that while most of these temporary migrant workers see New Zealand as their immediate home where they have made huge financial and emotional investments in the recent past, they are largely feeling left-behind when others are either well supported or their interests being actively considered by the government.
Many of them have been missing out on the government’s wage subsidy, have lost their jobs due to Covid-19 related redundancies or even worse are not able to start their jobs again as they are not allowed back in the country owing to strict border closure measures in place.
Sadly, either there is not enough consideration being given by the government to their plight, or if being considered, then it is not being adequately communicated to this important section of New Zealand’s workforce as is the case for others.
Notably, a few days ago some union representatives and the workers had a zoom meeting with the Immigration Minister Iain Lees Galloway to discuss the concerns of these stranded temporary migrant workers, but nothing concrete has emerged so far as a policy response from the government.
As opposed to this, Education Minister Chris Hipkins is now flagging the possibility of getting “exemptions” and allowing new international students back into New Zealand before the border reopens.
The news though encouraging as it reflects signs of return of some semblance of normalcy in the post Covid-19 world has rightly caused some dismay among a large number of temporary migrant workers, most of whom where earlier international students themselves and are currently stranded overseas for no fault of their own and not being allowed to return back in the country.
However, temporary migrant workers, of whom many work in essential services, and still have not been allowed back in the country as they do not qualify within the “criticality” aspect for immigration purposes are pleading the government to provide similar consideration for them also.
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