Iain Lees-Galloway
MP for Palmerston North
Immigration Spokesperson

MEDIA STATEMENT

21 October 2016

Work visas fuel record immigration

The record level of immigration to New Zealand announced today is fuelled by another massive jump in the number of work visas issued says Labour’s Immigration spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway.

“Despite predictions that immigration was going to peak in the middle of this year, the latest data shows that immigration to New Zealand is higher than ever with a net gain of more than 70,000 people in the year to September.

“Work visas account for 32% of permanent and long term arrivals, more than any other category. 40,200 new long term migrants arrived with work visas in the year to September, an increase of 3,900 on the previous year.

“This makes a mockery of the Government’s claim that record immigration is driven by Kiwis coming home. In fact, 2,108 more New Zealanders left the country than came back this year.

“The recent Salvation Army report on NEETs should be a wake-up call to government. Many work visas are issued to people working in low-skill, low wage jobs such as farming, hospitality and administration. Yet we have 71,000 young people who are not in employment, education, or training.

“Our Immigration policies should be focussed on bringing people with the skills we need to grow our economy and create opportunities for everyone. It should not be used to exploit either immigrants or New Zealanders by employing migrants to fill jobs with inferior pay and conditions.

“The Government’s recent changes will do nothing to reduce the number of work visas that are being issued. Changes to our work visa criteria are urgently needed to make the immigration system more sustainable, and able to deliver the skills New Zealand genuinely needs,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.

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