Kiwi Workers Snubbed in Major Construction Project

New Zealand workers are being ignored in favour of foreign construction workers who are being enticed to our shores with the promise of high pay rates and free food and accommodation.

Job site Seek is advertising for 80 Australian construction carpenters to work on a major project in New Zealand starting early this year.

The Australian workers will be paid up to $60 an hour, as well as being provided with free food and accommodation.

Rt Hon Winston Peters says the advert indicates that the construction project in New Zealand may well have been secured by an Australian company.

“This situation is scandalous in that we have an official unemployment level of 7.3 per cent which includes many experienced builders.

“Either the Government or a New Zealand organisation is paying top rates for Australians to work here, shutting out any hope of skilled New Zealanders picking up these jobs.”

Mr Peters says one of New Zealand First’s fundamental principles is that New Zealanders should have first priority to jobs in this country.

“But this National-led Government cares more about foreign companies making money on our shores than in ensuring New Zealanders have jobs.

“John Key and his cronies will deny that until they are blue in the face but the advertised facts speak louder than their collective forked tongues.

“It is action, not hollow words, that is needed from the Government to ensure New Zealanders have priority in our own job market,” says Mr Peters.

ENDS

© Scoop Media