The Road Transport Forum is welcoming proposed changes to temporary work visas in an effort to tackle skills shortages.
Immigration minister Iain Lees-Galloway says the Government is looking into a new framework for assessing all employer-assisted temporary work visas.
The proposals include replacing the Essential Skills in Demand Lists with Regional Skills Shortage Lists and introducing sector agreements for industries which rely heavily on migrant labour.
“Regional Skills Shortage Lists will better reflect the skill shortages that exist in the regions and provide a stronger signal to temporary migrants of opportunities in regional areas.
“Sector agreements would help businesses in need source migrants for easily in return for commitments by the sector to employ and train more New Zealanders and to address their workforce needs more effectively,” Lees-Galloway says.
Road Transport Forum chief executive Nick Leggett says the changes could help driver shortage in the freight industry.
“Ever since truck drivers were taken off the Immediate Skills Shortage list a number of years ago transport operators have struggled to keep up with New Zealand’s ever-growing freight demand.
“It is estimated that the New Zealand road transport industry is currently around 4000 drivers short of where we should be based on today’s freight task.
“The road transport sector agreement, while not a complete panacea to the industry’s workforce issues has the potential to alleviate some of the most acute shortages for operators in certain parts of the country.
“Industry has introduced a number of initiatives over the years to try to alleviate the current shortage, including the development of career resources and qualification pathways. However, current immigration settings have not helped operators who require staff immediately,” Leggett says.
The Road Transport Forum encourages all those within the industry to engage in the process and provide feedback to submit on the Government’s proposal.
Consultation on the proposals is open to all individuals, groups or organisations and closes on March 18, 2019.
