The official response justified the plan to remove motor mechanic based on the need to protect training and employment opportunities for locals already entering the occupation – and that the industry has had long enough to train locals and migrants to the current standard.
Automotive Employment NZ managing director, Russell Phillips, says the issue is not so much an unwillingness to train locals to the current standard – much of it comes down to there not being enough quality prospects for apprenticeships, industry training or jobs.
“If I was to take a stab in the dark, I would suggest that government is particularly concerned at the number of job losses that have occurred in the 2012 year to date outside industry,” says Phillips. “The Ministry of Social Development on their website show that there are a number of unemployed mechanics.”
Phillips says that while they may list themselves as mechanics, the skill levels required are just not there.
“During the recession we looked at these mechanics and researched the top 80 along with a case manager that had been appointed to Automotive Employment NZ,” Phillips says.
“Many were not mechanics, they said they were handy with their hands, but had no corresponding work experience, and had skills that were not acceptable under current industry standards.”
“I would suggest that during the period from 2004-2008, Immigration NZ approved numerous work permits from candidates originating from countries that do not have the same standards as New Zealand and that the approval of residency ultimately led to these lesser skilled workers becoming unemployed.”
Phillips says the industry has tried to train new technicians, but some companies struggle to find candidates of a high enough quality for apprenticeships.
“It is evident in recent years that automotive engineering has been viewed as an employment of last resort,” says Phillips.
“I can not stress strongly enough that the New Zealand motoring industry needs to spend some money promoting itself,” Phillips says. “We need to promote that the motor industry as a career path, where you can enter as an apprentice and progress, with options to go to a number of roles, including parts and service managers, dealer principals, or management roles with the distributors.”
“We need to promote the glamorous side of the industry, and show people we have something to offer.”
