Sector Agreements have been put in place to ensure labour demands are met in industries that rely heavily on migrant workers, while those sectors aim to reduce that reliance over time
Our team are adept at handling applications across a wide range of occupations, and this includes those covered by the various sector agreements implemented by Immigration New Zealand (INZ). These agreements have been put in place to allow some sectors to secure AEWVs for their migrant workers, in roles paid below the median wage, while they work towards reducing their reliance on migrant workers over time.
We are experienced in assisting with the application process from end-to-end, starting with the employer and their accreditation and job check needs, through to identifying the most appropriate role for their prospective worker to be employed under, vetting the worker against the criteria for the role, and assisting with preparing all relevant employment and application documents.
Employment Sectors
The employment sectors currently covered by agreements are set out below, and these agreements allow employers to pay below the median wage to certain specified roles. The employment sectors with current agreements are:
- Tourism and hospitality
- Care workforce
- Seafood processing (onshore)
- Construction and infrastructure
- Meat processing
- Seasonal snow and adventure tourism
- Transport
- Seafood (sea-based) – hired on a Fishing Crew Work Visa, rather than an AEWV
The specific pay rates for each sector are set by the government following consultation with relevant government agencies and sector representatives. The difference in pay rates is intended to reflect the different labour markets for each.
Each sector agreement is designed to provide limited support for a sector identified as one that has traditionally relied upon lower-paid workers, including migrants. Upon the end of each sector agreement, the agreement will be reviewed and a decision made to either update, extend, or end the agreement.
Stand-down periods
Because the roles included in the various sector agreements allow migrants to be paid below the median wage, the length of continuous stay in New Zealand for those migrants varies. The intention behind these periods is to make it clear that potential migrant workers are limited in how long they can work in New Zealand in the role, and to ensure employers have fewer reasons to rely on lower-skilled migrant labour.
From 27 November 2023, the maximum stay periods will be determined by role and in some instances also pay rate, as follows:
|
Role |
Maximum Visa Length |
Maximum Continuous Stay |
|
Role paid at median wage or above |
5 years |
5 years |
|
Care workforce sector role paid level 4 rate |
3 years |
5 years |
|
Care workforce sector role paid level 3 rate |
3 years |
3 years |
|
Construction/infrastructure sector roles paid below median wage |
2 years |
2 years |
|
Transport sector roles paid below median wage |
3 years |
5 years |
|
Seasonal snow and adventure tourism sector roles paid below median wage |
7 months |
5 years |
|
Tourism and hospitality sector roles paid below median wage |
2 years |
2 years |
|
Meat processing sector roles paid below median wage |
7 months |
7 months |
|
Seafood processing (onshore) sector roles paid below median wage |
7 months |
7 months |
In all instances, any further AEWV can only be approved for up to the maximum continuous stay. After the maximum continuous stay has been hit, AEWV holders must spend at least 12 continuous months outside of New Zealand first, before they will be able to apply for and be granted a further AEWV, except for meat and seafood process workers who will be subject to a four-month stand-down period, to allow them to apply for another AEWV ahead of the start of the following season. The only exception to a stand-down period is where an applicant can demonstrate that they are on a pathway to residence, such as meeting the skill threshold but requiring more time to complete the required skilled work experience.
How Saunders & Co can add value
- Advising on the options available under the sector agreements to maximise the duration of visa granted to any migrant employees and thus continuity of employment
- Identifying potential issues for each stage of the application process, and ensuring that these are suitably addressed as early on as possible
- We will prepare each stage of the process and be your point of contact throughout, freeing you up to focus on what matters – your business
- Identifying possible residence pathways for your employees and ensuring that you give them the full support they need to achieve their goals, also avoiding unnecessary stand-down periods
Links to further information: