ACT Party Leader David Seymour has said that his party will support a “humanitarian approach” in getting temporary migrant workers currently stranded overseas back into the country.
Seymour was speaking with the Indian Weekender on zoom interview from Wellington earlier this morning on a range of issues including government’s Covid-19 pandemic response, opposition’s criticism of the alleged sloppiness especially in the last couple of weeks.
When asked what his Party would do to ameliorate the conditions of the temporary migrant workers stranded overseas ever since the borders were first closed in March this year if they were in government after October Seymour responded, “I think you have to start with some humanity.”
“I have got families in my electorate in Epsom whose children have been going to schools here in NZ for several years who are currently stranded in places like Bali. It is not their fault that they are stranded and are unable to return back.”
“We will need to find out what kind of connections they have with New Zealand. For those who have children going to schools in NZ should be able to return.
“for those who have jobs for a period of time, let’s say one year, should be allowed to return back.”
“It is never going to be a free for all, but we can start with a humanitarian approach based on their connection to NZ,” Seymour said.
When asked further about his Party’s overall view on the importance of the migrant workers in New Zealand economy, and also if the current government has treated the migrant workers fairly in recent times Seymour responded cautiously dividing his response into two sperate phases of pre and post-Covid.
“ACT is always in favour of immigration. We believe it enriches New Zealand. We believe it is not viable for NZ to operate with a labour market which is only 5 million. I certainly think that some of the visas that were issued did not have pathways to citizenship and make a person dependent on a single employer are open to abuse. “That really worries me. I don’t think migrant worker should be dependent on a single employer and should always have a pathway to citizenship.
“In post Covid period, in fairness to the government, they faced very challenging difficulties. You have got a large number of people stranded in NZ who are not citizens or residents and in a job market that is contracting especially in the areas of hospitality and tourism where a large number of migrant workers are employed. We do have some obligation to support them.
“But it is a difficult situation as they are not normally entitled for any support, so I am not going to beat the government up on that.
“I think generally we need to be pro-immigration welcoming people to come and work in our country and then be prepared to tweak some rules,” Seymour said.
He was also probed about the opposition’s line of criticism of the government’s Covid-19 pandemic response so far, including the elimination strategy, the resurgence of the second wave of Covid-19 and accompanied lockdown in Auckland.
See the detailed interview on the Indian Weekender’s Facebook page.