The NZ Truck Association and National Road Carriers has launched a joint petition aimed at changes to the visa system that could see a number of migrant workers taken off the road, leading to a potential shortage of experienced drivers.
The position of truck driver is being removed from the skills shortage list causing concern amongst carriers, especially those with substantial migrant worker numbers on such visas.
NZ Trucking Association Business Development Manager Suzanne Hubbell says the associations have called for members to sign an online petition campaigning to have the skill retained, “Some companies hire over 80% of their workforce from migrant workers. We were contacted a few weeks ago regarding these changes to working visas – which could lead to companies being forced to park-up trucks for the lack of drivers – and decided we need to act jointly” says Hubbell.
In a communication to members, the two industry associations groups put the situation starkly: “There is clearly a lack of suitably qualified Truck Drivers in NZ so why is the Immigration Minister removing this category from the skills-shortage list?”
“Paula Bennett the Minister for Social Development has a big list of unemployed people which needs drastically reducing, and the Government believes that plugging the supply from overseas, will force operators into training unemployed people,” the communication noted.
A move which according to Hubbell will “cut transport operators off at the knees.”
Russell Phillips of Automotive Employment NZ says that the removal of truck drivers from the skills lists followed several other job categories, including automotive technicians – scheduled for removal in December 2013.
Phillips warned that the removal of skills from the essential skills lists will make those skills more difficult to bring into New Zealand and cause difficulties for those seeking to renew work permits, once removal of the essential skills is enacted.
The spotlight on the essential skills list is widely received as being a strategic move by the Ministry of Innovation, Business and Employment to encourage employers to train unemployed New Zealanders.
The MIBE has questioned whether the skills shortages list is the best method in addressing such shortages, believing that more emphasis around creating training and employment opportunities for New Zealanders will provide longer term employment opportunity to local people, who can be trained to fulfill these roles.
Phillips comments, “The Ministry’s message seems to be, start hiring our unemployed, up-skill those who haven’t made the grade or we will try and force you to do so.”
Both road transport associations fear that it will lead to operators dropping standards, adding to training overheads and having a negative impact on overall Operator Rating System classifications.
“We need the Government to make it easier to recruit drivers from school and simplify the licensing laws; they also need to help us with funding for training.” said Hubbell.
