Backpack New Zealand > Forum > Immigration & Working
NZ gov’t urged to extend work permits of OFWs
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engr2008
Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Posts: 358
Location: Auckland
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 Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject: NZ gov’t urged to extend work permits of OFWs |
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http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090616-210733/NZ-govt-urged-to-extend-work-permits-of-OFWs
MANILA, Philippines—A group of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in New Zealand will try to persuade immigration officials there next month to allow OFWs laid off due to redundancy to remain in the South Pacific state so that they could find new jobs.
Migrante said that New Zealand Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman acknowledged Monday receiving its letter of June 12 which sought government intervention in extending laid-off migrants’ work permits for three to six months.
“We believe that granting this appeal will not only alleviate considerable hardship for the individuals involved, but will also be the appropriate move to protect the rights of migrant workers who significantly contribute to the needs of the New Zealand economy,” the group’s national coordinator Dennis Maga said in his letter to Coleman.
Migrante, with the support of the local labor group National Distribution Union, earlier launched a petition regarding the work extension, adding that in practice, some employers had been willing to keep their workers for two to three months after announcing the redundancies, thus giving laid-off workers a chance to seek new jobs.
The group said migrant workers whose jobs were declared redundant usually receive two- to four-week notices from their employers.
Maga, however, said the period was not sufficient for a retrenched worker to find a new job and apply for a new work permit.
“Many migrants and their families have lost their residency applications and are in deep trouble. They have sold their homes and assets in their country of origin to move to New Zealand and have nothing to return to,” the petition said.
Maga said that retrenched OFWs and Filipinos seeking work in New Zealand would find it more difficult to land jobs after the labor department last week removed 40 occupations from its list of job categories that have “skills shortage” and may be filled up by migrant workers.
The de-listed job categories included bakers, sheep farm workers and numerous construction sector occupations, such as bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers and scaffolders. |
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levi
Joined: 16 Oct 2006
Posts: 1231
Location: Auckland Central, New Zealand
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| Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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Nice effort for Migrante. Hopefully, they can shift more of their effort in providing opportunity for the displaced workers to look for alternative jobs and/or mount an information campaign for employers who might be interested in taking them on.
The problem is that even if immigration will grant them 6 month work visas, the fact that most employers are ignorant of the mechanics of a work visa and the now-strictly imposed rules on hiring foreign workers, this might be a wasted effort.
Also, Migrante should look into those workers with work visa who have lodged their PR applications already - they are the ones who have most to lose if they don't find work asap. |
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chrisv
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 323
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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| levi wrote: | Nice effort for Migrante. Hopefully, they can shift more of their effort in providing opportunity for the displaced workers to look for alternative jobs and/or mount an information campaign for employers who might be interested in taking them on.
Also, Migrante should look into those workers with work visa who have lodged their PR applications already - they are the ones who have most to lose if they don't find work asap. |
Hmmmm, I'm experiencing a li'l bit of dejavu here...like what I've said before, Migrante is here to protect the migrant workers, but I received a lot of flak from some hairballs in this forum. But anyhoot, times have changed and the recession has taken its toll. I guess migrants need to unify themselves to protect their very own right to live and work not only in NZ, but anywhere in the world. |
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