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What’s Happening With Immigration In New Zealand For 2020

What can we expect to see regarding immigration in the year to come in New Zealand?

One of the first immigration announcements is expected to be the government’s new two-year residence programme. It already lowered the target band of new residents to 50-60,000 and that may be changed again – and a cabinet paper suggests that it’s looking at prioritising certain categories, possibly such as skilled migrants, and capping others – such as partnership visas.

The government is also rolling out new employer-assisted work visas and regional workforce planning. The government wants to find ways of getting industry to attract New Zealanders into those jobs immigrants are doing, in return for a streamlined visa process. The first negotiations to make that happen are expected to be with the residential care and meat processing sectors, as industries that employ many immigrants.

Another change we will see this year is the refugee quota increasing to 1500 in July. Six new settlement areas have been to the existing ones for refugees – Ashburton, Blenheim, Levin, Masterton, Timaru and Whanganui – and a lot of work is going on there in increasing housing supply in those areas, and with the community and health sectors.  Tackling worker and student exploitation and possible changes to Pacific immigration policies might also be looked at.

And apart from policy changes?

There’s a lot of operational challenges too: while the politicians may be focused on the future, the here and now will always raise its head. Last year it was the debacle of partnership visas, and visa processing delays caused by international branch closures.

How important a role will immigration play in this year’s election?

New Zealand has historically not had highly polarised debates about immigration.

Immigration came up at the 2017 election, after concerns that it was exacerbating housing supply and infrastructure problems.  New Zealand First and Labour to a lesser extent campaigned then on lowering immigration. Whether they delivered on that – and whether voters liked how they did it – may be crucial.  It can depend on how you cut the numbers – new resident numbers are the lowest since the turn of the century, while work visa numbers are higher than they have ever been, and net migration is still at historically high levels.

Labour may hope it can point to its work in tackling immigrant exploitation and reforming work visas. National has criticised the government on its record, including problems that visa processing delays have caused for the economy and businesses.  If last year is anything to go by, New Zealand First will continue to press on with immigration as a key way to help bring home the vote.  It claimed credit for high income restrictions introduced on immigrants’ parents and a tougher line on partnership applications.  NZ First Minister Shane Jones recently suggested it may consider a population policy, after getting into a war of words with the Indian community.

“I’m on incredibly fertile ground for the party I represent,” he told RNZ.  He said he was saddened by the “levels of verbiage that the Indian communal leadership have thrown at the party.”

If you are interested in migrating to New Zealand Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

Visa changes to help end exploitation - Immigration Minister

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BLOG SERIES – WORKING IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) – PART 6

You can hold a full-time and part-time job together with the right permit

Since 2010, the UAE’s Labour Law has made provisions, which allow an employee to have a part-time job along with a full-time one subject to certain conditions. The employee can work part-time after getting the work permit from Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

Cost – The fee for part-time work permit includes an application fee of Dh100 and an approval fee of Dh500.

Law – As per Federal Decree Law No. 2 of 2007, if an expatriate is caught working for another company without an official permit, then a fine of Dh50,000 will be applied to the hiring company, in addition to other penalties in case of repeating the offence.

For people on an existing work permit – Emiratis, other GCC nationals and expatriate employees who are living in the UAE on a work visa, can take up a second job, upon getting a part-time work permit from MoHRE, which is valid for one year.

Part-time work permit holders are allowed to work in another company at the same time as working in the current company on a part-time basis for less than eight hours per day.

For people on a dependent visa – Those who live in the UAE on a family visa can take up a second job after getting a part-time work permit with a No Objection Certificate from the sponsor. Such work permits can be issued to men and women between 18 and 65 years of age.

Temporary/Part-time work permit – It is a service provided by the Ministry to recruit a national or expatriate worker residing in the UAE to carry out a certain work within a period not exceeding six months.

Required Documents

  • A copy of both establishments’ trade licences (the current establishment and the application applying establishment).
  • A colour photograph with a white background of the applicant.
  • A copy of the applicant’s passport.
  • If academic qualification is required (post-secondary diploma, university degree or equivalent), a copy thereof which should be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be attached.
  • A letter of approval issued by the competent authority shall be attached if so required (doctor, pharmacist, nurse, and teacher).
  • A copy of the contract.
  • No objection certificate from the first sponsor.
  • A copy of the applicant’s visa that includes (the sponsor or establishment name) that is valid for more than six months.
  • Terms and Conditions.

Workers who are registered in the Ministry, under following conditions:

  • The permit and residency visa shall be valid for more than six months
  • The permit’s period shall not exceed six months or the current permit expiry date, whichever is earlier.
  • Approval of those authorised signatory of the current and applying establishments shall be submitted.

Workers not registered at the Ministry:

  • Government employees.
  • Students of both genders (from the age of 18 years) who are under the sponsorship of their relatives, schools, or universities. On the condition that the visa profession is (student).
  • Females (from the age of 18 years) who are under the sponsorship of their relatives.
  • Husbands of UAE national women.
  • Children of UAE national women.

Under the following condition:

  • The worker and his/her non-national relatives shall have a valid residence visa stamped in the passport.
  • The guardians approval.
  • This permit shall be valid for six months.
  • Submitting approval of the profession related authority (Ministry of Affairs – Ministry of Health – Ministry of Education – Sports, Youth, Community Development Authority).
  • Exceptions
  • The Ministry may approve to grant a temporary work permit, without satisfying the condition related to the former employer’s approval and the validity of the card and residence visa, in the following cases:
  • A labour complaint that is referred by the Ministry to a court of law.
  • If it is confirmed that the employer failed to pay wages for a period exceeding two months according to the wages protection office report or the labour relation offices report.

General conditions for the above:

  • The applying establishment trade licence should be valid.
  • The new labour profession should be suitable with the establishment activity.
  • The labour should not be below 18 years of age.
  • Payment

Request for initial approval of a new electronic work permit (Part-time)

  • 1st Category: AED 100
  • 2nd Category: Level (A) AED 100 – Level (B) AED 100 – Level (C) AED 100
  • 3rd Category: AED 100

Initial approval of a new electronic work permit (Part-time) six-month period

  • 1st Category: AED 500
  • 2nd Category: Level (A) AED 500 – Level (B) AED 500 – Level (C) AED 500
  • 3rd Category: AED 500

Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship website

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So If I Emigrate To Australia Can My Parents Emigrate As Well

Visa Options For Parents To Reside In Australia

Leaving your parents when you move overseas is always concerning. One option is for them to emigrate as well.  So let’s explore the possibility of this occurring if you emigrate to Australia.  

Visitor visas

There are three- six- and twelve-month visitor visas available.  As a short term option, it may be worthwhile investigating getting your parents over to Australia on a visitor visa.  This will provide the opportunity to gauge whether it will be a good move for all parties concerned.

Permanent residence for parents of children in Australia

The only visa that will give a parent or parents permanent residence is the:

Contributory Parent Visa – The requirements for this visa are:

  • Half or more than half of the applicant’s children are resident in Australia as citizens or permanent residents
  • The sponsoring child is ‘settled’ in Australia

The 870 – Sponsored Parent Visa

This recently-added visa will require adequate health insurance and will allow up to a maximum of ten years of cumulative stay permitted (3+3 or 5+5 years).  The parent or parents must leave Australia for 90 consecutive days before making the second application. People are not allowed to work on this visa.

The fine print

The parent must be sponsored by their child who is an Australian citizen or a permanent resident who has been usually resident in Australia for four years. Only two parents can be sponsored at any one time. The sponsor must have a minimum household taxable income threshold of $83,454.80 per annum.

No balance of family test will be applied, and no sponsorship bond will be required. The sponsored parents will be required to maintain adequate health insurance for the duration of their stay in Australia. The sponsors will be required to pay in full any outstanding public health debts incurred by their parent.

Are you ready to take the next step? By completing the free online visa assessment on the Migrate2Oz website, you will receive free advice on your visa eligibility, visa options and the next key steps.

Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

The new Temporary Parent Visa (subclass 870)

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Boundless Possible In Australia

Stick around for three years and become an Aussie

The Northern Territory (NT) in Australia has become a go-to destination for migrants wanted to become permanent residents of Australia.  NT businesses sought to fill 520 positions with skilled migrants last year – a 263 per cent year-on-year rise after major changes to migration laws last year.  The changes are the result of a deal between a population poor NT Government and the Australian Commonwealth Government.

Businesses in the NT facing a loss of staff can choose to employ the migrants if they cannot fill the vacancies with Australians, while skilled migrants can apply for permanent residency after working in the NT for at least three years.  It is an opportunity bonanza for forward thinking individuals wishing to emigrate to Australia.

The NT Government is trying to boost the Territory’s flagging population with a range of measures including the Boundless Possible campaign, first home buyer incentives and industry development like onshore gas development.  From the start of last year, the NT Designated Area Migration Agreement came into effect.  Unlike the first agreement between the governments, this new agreement includes the permanent residency three years’ rule.

Local businesses have requested to fill 520 positions with skilled migrants in the first year of the new agreement, almost equalling the 573 positions sought for the entire four years of the first deal.  So far, 52 local businesses have been endorsed by MigrationNT and have entered into Labour Agreements with the Department of Home Affairs.  A further 37 businesses have received endorsement from MigrationNT and are working with Home Affairs in finalising Labour Agreements.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said his government advocated for the inclusion of the pathway to permanent residency in the second agreement, after listening to Territory business owners.  “The Government’s number one priority is jobs for Territorians but access to, and retention of, a suitably skilled workforce is a key issue for many employers,” and “Every Territorian benefits when we attract more people to the Territory.  More people means more jobs and a stronger economy, which means better schools, better hospitals and more police.”  Mr Gunner said.

The new agreement identifies 117 shortage occupations, which employers can apply to fill with skilled international workers, up by 36 on the first DAMA. Employers who apply to fill positions with overseas nationals must first demonstrate they have been unable to fill the position locally.

Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge said the Federal Government is committed to supporting the growth of regional Australia, which includes all of the NT. “Our first priority is always to fill jobs with Australians, but the immigration system can play an important role in helping to address regional skills gaps,” Mr Tudge said.

The “shortage” list includes accountants, bakers, farmers, baristas, child care workers, cooks, forklift drivers, mechanics, plumbers and truck drivers.

We are currently working with clients in the Northern Territory so don’t hesitate to Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

BOUNDLESS POSSIBLE

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4 Ways Data Is Improving Healthcare

The Power Of Healthcare Data

From therapy to x-rays, progressive technology is keeping us healthier, however 7% of all data produced by hospitals each year goes unused, but that’s beginning to change.

Hospitals produce 50 petabytes of data per year. This mass of information comprises clinical notes, lab tests, medical images, sensor readings, genomics, and operational and financial data. At the moment, 97% goes unused – but this is changing, with great potential to transform the quality of medical care.

Here are four ways data analysis is improving healthcare without adding staff or beds.

  1. Boosting the humble X-ray

The X-ray is the oldest form of medical imaging, and still the most commonly used. Chest X-rays alone represent 40% of the 3.6 billion imaging procedures performed worldwide every year. But X-ray “reject rates” – the number of images that cannot be used due to poor image quality or patient positioning – can approach 25%.

To address this, software engineers have developed an application that helps clinicians pinpoint the root causes of rejected images. The app was piloted at the University of Washington Medical Centre, and has automated a process that once required 230 mouse clicks and nearly seven hours of work. Reducing reject rates saves time and resources while putting patients on the right path sooner.

  1. Enabling collaboration

In oncology, the process of preparing for, conducting, and documenting tumour board meetings is frequently suboptimal and non-standardized. Each specialist aggregates data on a patient in a silo. As a result, meetings are spent switching back and forth between the different systems and technologies used across each discipline.

To address this, an alliance between Roche Diagnostics and GE Healthcare is combining and analysing patients’ diagnostic data — including genomics, tissue pathology, and biomarkers — with their medical imaging and monitoring data. From here, cloud-based data integrating software could fundamentally change the process of tumour board meetings, helping doctors make more informed, faster diagnoses and individualize treatments to each patient.

  1. Tailoring therapies

Integrating data can have transformative effects across the entire healthcare ecosystem. GE Healthcare recently began a partnership with Vanderbilt University Medical Centre (VUMC), to enable safer, more-precise immunotherapies.

The project will retrospectively analyse and correlate the immunotherapy responses of thousands of cancer patients with their demographic, genomic, tumour, cellular, proteomic, and imaging data. From here, AI-powered apps will help physicians identify the most suitable treatment for each patient.

  1. Organising hospitals

A small but growing number of hospitals are implementing NASA-style mission control Command Centres to manage their functions and services. The goal is to address the capacity, safety, quality, and wait-time issues that have plagued healthcare.

A hospital Command Centre pulls in streams of data from various systems, generating analytics that help staff predict what will happen in the next 24 to 48 hours. The data is displayed on Command Centre screens and on tablets and mobile devices. This allows staff to focus on delivering care, rather than organizing it.

The Power Of Healthcare Data

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Foreign Tradies Are Flocking To Australia

Foreign tradies are flocking to Australia to take thousands of jobs construction bosses can't get locals to fill

  • Visas for mechanics, chefs, carpenters and electricians rose by 34 per cent
  • The figure comes after the Government vowed to give locals first pick of all jobs
  • Immigration Minister Alan Tudge said there aren’t enough locals to fill positions

Foreign workers are flooding into Australia to take thousands of jobs construction bosses can’t get locals to fill.  New figures reveal the number of Australians taking up trades has declined over the past six years, while more temporary skilled worker visas are being handed out than ever before. 

Visas granted for mechanics, chefs, welders, carpenters and electricians rose from  7,200 to 9,200 nationally from 2018 to 2019.  In Queensland, that figure rose from 880 to nearly 1,200 in the same time period.  The statistics come after the government revamped foreign worker visas and vowed to give Australians first pick of all available jobs.

Opposition immigration spokeswoman Kristina Keneally asked why the Coalition were letting the number of people on foreign worker visas grow – particularly in Queensland. 

‘It’s clear the Morrison Government’s changes to the 457 visa system two years ago were an attempt to cover up their failure to train Queensland workers for Queensland jobs,’ she said. 

Labor education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said the Coalition had created a ‘serious tradie shortage’ in the state. 

‘Scott Morrison’s cuts to TAFE mean Queenslanders aren’t being trained in these critical trades,’ she said. 

Other members of the Labor party said the Coalition Government ‘failed to train Queenslanders’.

But acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge maintained bosses only hire foreign workers when they can’t find locals to do the job. 

‘We don’t want to hold up major projects in Australia because of lack of qualified people,’ he said.  

The number of foreign tradies being accepted into the country was much higher than other jobs including managers, community workers, administration and sales. 

Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

Australia faces skills shortage due to failed training

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More Great News About Australian Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs)

BOOSTING AUSTRALIA'S POPULATION: DAMA II MARKS SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR

Northern Territory businesses sought to fill 520 positions with skilled migrants in 2019 – a 263 per cent year-on-year increase – following a major change to the NT’s Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA).

DAMA II, a bilateral agreement between the Northern Territory and Federal Governments, came into effect on January 1, 2019 with the inclusion of a pathway to permanent residency.

Unlike the first DAMA between the two jurisdictions, DAMA II visa holders can apply for permanent residency after working in the Territory for at least three years.

As a result of this inclusion, local businesses have requested to fill 520 positions with skilled migrants in the first year of DAMA II – almost equalling the 573 positions sought for the entire four years of the first DAMA.

So far, 52 local businesses have been endorsed by MigrationNT and have entered into Labour Agreements with the Department of Home Affairs. These businesses can now hire overseas workers in positions they have not been able to fill by Australians.

A further 37 businesses have received endorsement from MigrationNT and are working with Home Affairs in finalising Labour Agreements.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said his government advocated for the inclusion of the pathway to permanent residency in the second agreement, after listening to Territory business owners.

“The Territory Labor Government’s number one priority is jobs for Territorians but access to, and retention of, a suitably skilled workforce is a key issue for many employers,” Mr Gunner said.

“That’s why our government fought hard for the inclusion of the pathway to permanent residency (PPR) in the DAMA II, to support our Territory businesses to fill job shortages with skilled international migrants and to keep workers in the Territory long term.”

The new agreement identifies 117 shortage occupations, which employers can apply to fill with skilled international workers, up by 36 on the first DAMA.

“We knew this new PPR and the addition of 36 extra occupations would appeal to Territory businesses and the huge increase in businesses seeking to fill positions with skilled migrants in the first year has proven it,” Mr Gunner said.

“Every Territorian benefits when we attract more people to the Territory. More people means more jobs and a stronger economy, which means better schools, better hospitals and more police.”

Employers who apply to fill positions with overseas nationals must first demonstrate they have been unable to fill the position locally.

Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge said the Federal Government is committed to supporting the growth of regional Australia, which includes all of the NT.

“Our first priority is always to fill jobs with Australians, but the immigration system can play an important role in helping to address regional skills gaps,” Mr Tudge said.

“DAMA II provides a platform for local businesses to access the skills they need to meet their specific workforce requirements, where they have demonstrated Australians are not available to fill those jobs.

“Importantly, by giving local businesses the tools to attract skilled workers and boost the population of regional areas, we create more local jobs and a thriving economy.”

The first four year DAMA between the Federal and NT Governments commenced in 2015 and was the first in Australia where a broader range of shortage occupations was available than those identified in standard skilled migration programs.

DAMA II is a five year agreement between the two jurisdictions.

Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

Australian DAMA Visa - TSS 482 to 186 visa PR - Age English Salary + Occupations - DAMA NT SA VIC

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UK Recruitment Industry Reacts To Queen’s Speech

Proposed Legislation includes a new employment bill, a points-based immigration system for skilled workers, flexible working and a national skills fund

During the State Opening of Parliament in December, the Queen outlined a comprehensive list of the new government’s proposed legislation including a new employment bill, a points-based immigration system for skilled workers, flexible working and a national skills fund.

The proposed employment bill promises to protect and enhance workers’ rights when the UK leaves the EU. The government is also set to create a new single enforcement body to protect workers’ rights. Workers would also have the right to request a more stable contract. Flexible working would also be default, unless employers have a good reason not to allow this (this is subject to consultation).

The recruitment industry has reacted to the announcement.

Tom Hadley, Director of Policy and Campaigns at the Recruitment & Employment Confederation, said, “We hope the government’s employment bill will incentivise business compliance and increase fairness and flexibility in work. Two way flexibility, that supports businesses and workers’ choices, is vital to a fair and productive labour market. The challenge ahead is to ensure that this works for all parties.”

“The government’s recognition of the importance of all people being able to retrain is welcome,” Hadley continued. “Recruitment professionals are in a unique position to facilitate career transitions and progression, and to provide the latest insight into how skills needs are evolving. We look forward to ensuring that the National Skills Fund works for employers and workers alike.”

Tania Bowers, General Counsel at The Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), also commented, “While it was confirmed that measures will be brought forward to encourage gig workers to request a “more predictable contract”, our members are keen to understand whether this right will be extended to non-permanent  agency workers, who by their nature are flexible.”

“We welcome the introduction of a National Skills Fund. However, while a commitment to ‘growing our own’ talent will help to mitigate against talent gaps in the future, in the interim access to skilled professionals from Europe and beyond must be maintained,” Bowers said.

“While today’s speech underlined a commitment to a ‘modern, fair, points-based immigration system’, Tier 2 Visas will continue to require a job offer. APSCo maintains that there must be a dedicated visa route as part of the future skills-based immigration system, through which highly skilled contractors from overseas can come to the UK and support British businesses. The abolition of the previous cap on numbers under the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visas coupled with a new fast-track immigration scheme for top scientists and researchers, however, should help alleviate skills shortages in some of the most talent-short sectors,” Bowers continued.

Bowers also called for a rethink to incoming changes related to IR35, and added that APSCo believes it should be delayed ‘pending a further impact review and completion of an assessment on employment status.’

Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

October 2019 Queen's Speech and State Opening of Parliament

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