More than 62,000 temporary migrant workers are currently outside NZ borders, reveals Immigration NZ
A spokesperson for the Immigration New Zealand has confirmed that there were slightly more than 62,000 temporary migrant workers currently out of New Zealand borders, though not all of them were stranded due to border closures.
The spokesperson was responding to the Indian Weekender’s query about the possible number of Indian origin temporary migrant workers stranded outside of NZ borders so as to understand the scale of the problem on hand.
Responding cautiously to the query the spokesperson said, “I can advise that the number of work visa holders who are currently outside NZ is 62,181 people. However, of these, 21,721 people have not activated their visas, meaning they have not yet travelled to New Zealand on that visa.
“That is all nationalities, not just India passport holders. I don’t have that figure for you,” the spokesperson said.
Clearly, more than 21,000 people who got their work visa approved off-shore and were yet to travel to NZ could not in any way be considered stranded overseas.
In fact, as per the current border closure rules, which only allows citizens and residents to enter New Zealand, even the newly approved residents who were yet to travel to the country for the first time are now not allowed entry across the borders.
Does this mean 40,460 temporary migrant workers are currently stranded overseas?
The INZ’s spokesperson further clarified that caution should be exercised in making general assumptions about the actual numbers of temporary migrant workers stranded overseas.
“Of the individuals who have activated their work visa, not all of them are necessarily individuals who have temporarily left New Zealand and want to return.
“It will likely include individuals who decided to leave New Zealand permanently prior to their work visa expiring and also individuals who have chosen to leave New Zealand since the COVID-19 pandemic,” the spokesperson further added.
However, there was no information available on the number of work visa holders currently overseas, who have permanently left New Zealand either before or after the start of Covid-19 pandemic.
The Minister for Immigration Iain Lees-Galloway had said on record that probably there are roughly 10,000 temporary migrant workers who are stranded overseas due to border restrictions.
What is govt doing about temporary migrant workers stuck overseas?
The government is repeatedly saying that it is aware of the precarious situation of temporary migrant workers currently stuck overseas, however also asserting that the border closure is paramount for NZ’s response against the spread of Covid-19.
The government has enacted a new immigration law (Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Act 2020) that gives sweeping powers to the Immigration NZ to be able to respond expeditiously to any emergent visa situation for a large number of people.
Since then there has been much expectation that the government might act favourably and justifiably to change visa conditions for many temporary migrant workers who have been rendered jobless and stranded overseas for no fault of their own.
However, the Minister for Immigration Iain Lees-Galloway has told several media outlets that he was waiting for legal advice on the use of those new powers under the new immigration law.
The Minister has also publicly hinted that all temporary migrant workers stuck overseas might not have favourable outcomes, even after INZ takes some decisive action as the nature of the job market has changed radically after the Covid-19 related lockdown and business closure.
For most of the work visas, the holders of such visas are allowed to leave the country and re-enter multiple times, as long their circumstances must continue to meet the conditions and criteria of their visa.
However, that does not take into account the situation where they have been deliberately stopped at the border and not allowed to enter back into the country due to the government's own rulings.
It is this dilemma that the government has to overcome eventually, and their action will determine this government’s point of difference - especially in terms of the attitude towards temporary migrant workers.
In NZ successive governments, of all stripes, have demonstrated a “use and discard” policy towards temporary migrant workers by attracting people on the promise of opportunities to remain in New Zealand while continuously shifting the goalposts for gaining long-term residence rights and the rules for work visas to maximise labour market flexibility.
So far this government has been extremely cautious in letting in temporary migrant workers back into the country.
The recent most decision in favour of temporary migrants has been the cabinet’s decision to lift restrictions on the overseas partners and children to enter New Zealand. Ever since the border closure in mid-March 2020, only those overseas partners who were travelling along with their citizen and resident partners were allowed entry into the country.
Although, a welcome step, yet it is too little and too late, as it clearly does not take into consideration the possible tens of thousands of work visa holders who are stuck overseas.
A spokesperson for the Immigration New Zealand has confirmed that there were slightly more than 62,000 temporary migrant workers currently out of New Zealand borders, though not all of them were stranded due to border closures.
The spokesperson was responding to the Indian Weekender’s query about...
A spokesperson for the Immigration New Zealand has confirmed that there were slightly more than 62,000 temporary migrant workers currently out of New Zealand borders, though not all of them were stranded due to border closures.
The spokesperson was responding to the Indian Weekender’s query about the possible number of Indian origin temporary migrant workers stranded outside of NZ borders so as to understand the scale of the problem on hand.
Responding cautiously to the query the spokesperson said, “I can advise that the number of work visa holders who are currently outside NZ is 62,181 people. However, of these, 21,721 people have not activated their visas, meaning they have not yet travelled to New Zealand on that visa.
“That is all nationalities, not just India passport holders. I don’t have that figure for you,” the spokesperson said.
Clearly, more than 21,000 people who got their work visa approved off-shore and were yet to travel to NZ could not in any way be considered stranded overseas.
In fact, as per the current border closure rules, which only allows citizens and residents to enter New Zealand, even the newly approved residents who were yet to travel to the country for the first time are now not allowed entry across the borders.
Does this mean 40,460 temporary migrant workers are currently stranded overseas?
The INZ’s spokesperson further clarified that caution should be exercised in making general assumptions about the actual numbers of temporary migrant workers stranded overseas.
“Of the individuals who have activated their work visa, not all of them are necessarily individuals who have temporarily left New Zealand and want to return.
“It will likely include individuals who decided to leave New Zealand permanently prior to their work visa expiring and also individuals who have chosen to leave New Zealand since the COVID-19 pandemic,” the spokesperson further added.
However, there was no information available on the number of work visa holders currently overseas, who have permanently left New Zealand either before or after the start of Covid-19 pandemic.
The Minister for Immigration Iain Lees-Galloway had said on record that probably there are roughly 10,000 temporary migrant workers who are stranded overseas due to border restrictions.
What is govt doing about temporary migrant workers stuck overseas?
The government is repeatedly saying that it is aware of the precarious situation of temporary migrant workers currently stuck overseas, however also asserting that the border closure is paramount for NZ’s response against the spread of Covid-19.
The government has enacted a new immigration law (Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Act 2020) that gives sweeping powers to the Immigration NZ to be able to respond expeditiously to any emergent visa situation for a large number of people.
Since then there has been much expectation that the government might act favourably and justifiably to change visa conditions for many temporary migrant workers who have been rendered jobless and stranded overseas for no fault of their own.
However, the Minister for Immigration Iain Lees-Galloway has told several media outlets that he was waiting for legal advice on the use of those new powers under the new immigration law.
The Minister has also publicly hinted that all temporary migrant workers stuck overseas might not have favourable outcomes, even after INZ takes some decisive action as the nature of the job market has changed radically after the Covid-19 related lockdown and business closure.
For most of the work visas, the holders of such visas are allowed to leave the country and re-enter multiple times, as long their circumstances must continue to meet the conditions and criteria of their visa.
However, that does not take into account the situation where they have been deliberately stopped at the border and not allowed to enter back into the country due to the government's own rulings.
It is this dilemma that the government has to overcome eventually, and their action will determine this government’s point of difference - especially in terms of the attitude towards temporary migrant workers.
In NZ successive governments, of all stripes, have demonstrated a “use and discard” policy towards temporary migrant workers by attracting people on the promise of opportunities to remain in New Zealand while continuously shifting the goalposts for gaining long-term residence rights and the rules for work visas to maximise labour market flexibility.
So far this government has been extremely cautious in letting in temporary migrant workers back into the country.
The recent most decision in favour of temporary migrants has been the cabinet’s decision to lift restrictions on the overseas partners and children to enter New Zealand. Ever since the border closure in mid-March 2020, only those overseas partners who were travelling along with their citizen and resident partners were allowed entry into the country.
Although, a welcome step, yet it is too little and too late, as it clearly does not take into consideration the possible tens of thousands of work visa holders who are stuck overseas.
Leave a Comment