In recent years, the economic crisis has swept across the world, as a result, some of giant companies went bankrupt, and many others have been struggling for survival, this has leaded to the increase of global unemployment rapidly.
New Zealand was not immune from the economic recession, and many companies have been facing difficulties in their operation, and therefore redundancy has become a solution for employers to reduce the overall expenses. As a number of New Zealanders have lost their permanent jobs, however, some employers remain short-term migrant’s workers instead of Kiwis. On 17, March, NZTV 3 program
Campbell Live reported that jet-boat manufacturer CWF Hamilton made redundant to 28 New Zealander stuff whereas 24 migrants who came to New Zealand under the immigration policy of skills shortage have been kept their jobs. To protect their members, the
Manufacturing and Construction Workers Union therefore urgently called for government to review and verify the immigration policy of skilled workers shortage, and called for businesses to make redundant to migrants first rather than Kiwis under the situation of recession. The union believed that there is no skill shortages now as many Kiwis have lost their jobs. However,
the employer of the company said: “it is about finding skilled people – if skilled people are Kiwis the door is not locked”. The report has raised an issue which is widely debated around the country - New Zealand jobs for Kiwis? Right or wrong...
Auckland Regional Migrant Services Charitable Trust (ARMS) immediately responded to Campbell Live program and stated that because of the shortages of skilled workers and high rate of New Zealanders moving out the country, New Zealand economy relies on attracting suitable migrants. Even though being the situation of the recession, some employers are still struggling to remain and find skilled employees according to a new Business Survey, and skilled migrants have been selected cautiously to meet New Zealand’s needs. ARMS claimed that they support migrant’s right for equal job opportunities.
It happens that there is a similar case. As the CWF Hamilton has been criticizing, New Plymouth factory
MCK Metals Pacific Ltd started to be investigated by government and the Union for the redundancy of 28 local employees while 9 Filipino workers on temporary work permits kept their jobs.
In response to the Union and public concern, politicians have made their comments on these cases.
Prime Minister John Key said although the immigration policy benefits to economy, migrants should not work at the cost of New Zealanders.
The Minister of Immigration Jonathan Coleman indicated that Government would restrict short-term visa in the period of the recession, and he described the short-term immigration policy is like "a tap that can be tured on and off”.
Labour party leader Phil Goff believed that the case was “unacceptable” if local staff could do the job.
However, business people’s versions of the cases are different from politicians.
Productive Economy Council stressed that government should consider cautiously when making a decision to restrict temporary work visa for skilled migrants and intervene companies’ decisions.
Productive Economy Council spokesman Selwyn Pellett pointed out that the government needs to think about the reasons “why a productive company could make such decision”, he believed that it is an “old world thinking” to deal with the recession by limiting the skilled short-term migrants. “If you want jobs for Kiwis then the companies that provide them need to survive. So let the employers make the hard decisions now to protect the employment future of New Zealanders in the long term," He said.
Members of
New Zealand Hotel Council complained Government on limiting work visa to protect New Zealanders’ jobs, which could cause serious problems for tourism of Queenstown and the country. A survey indicates that nearly half of workers in Queenstown tourism are migrants.
Destination Queenstown Chairwoman Erna Spijkerbosch said unsure and delayed visa process, which forced migrant’s staff return home earlier, has already damaged Queenstown tourism.
Worrying about uncertain future has been hanging over migrants as the issue raising. New Zealand Filipino migrants group
Migrant Aotearoa, appealed for government, Unions and employers to implement international declaration and agreement to protect migrant workers. According to International Labour Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow- Up (1998), and Memorandum of Agreement on Labour Cooperation between New Zealand and Philippine Government, migrant’s workers have the right to work and to be treated fairly.
In my point of view, the answer for “New Zealand jobs for Kiwis” is certainly wrong, it is not only in conflict with international declaration and agreement, and New Zealand democratic system and values, but also a threat for companies to survive from the recession, if companies went bankrupt or have to move to other country for cheaper labour costs in the goble marketing competition, then more people would lose their jobs, as there is a Chinese saying: “with the skin gone, what can the hair adhere to?”
Many reports have emphasized on the facts and the numbers that Kiwi employees lost their jobs ahead of migrants, however, none of them really covered the reasons why New Zealand employers are in favour of migrant workers rather than Kiwis?
