Firm supports push for skilled migrants

February 23, 2006

Leading engineering firm supports push for skilled migrants

Leading New Zealand-based global engineering, planning and project management firm Beca agrees that the current discussion around easing the way for skilled migrants is timely.

An immigration policy which facilitates easy recruitment in the global talent market is a competitive advantage for a New Zealand business such as Beca.

Matt Ensor, Manager of Beca Transportation, who has just this week returned from a recruitment drive in Singapore and India, says: "We continue to invest a great deal of time and money identifying potential employees, and a faster, more efficient and targeted immigration process would help us continue to attract some of the best engineering talent in the world."

More than half of the traffic engineers employed in Beca Transportation's 50 person team are originally from overseas, and it is a simple fact that as a country we could not be progressing transport projects at the current rate without the targeted overseas recruitment Beca currently undertakes.

"New Zealand-wide we currently employ approximately 144 people from Asia. We assist them with the immigration process as best we can but we find the key is spending time and helping them as they come to grips with the kiwi life-style and working environment."

Mr Ensor said any assistance given to New Zealand employers by the government to help them fill skilled labour shortages from offshore would be welcomed, especially if it is supported by the appropriate legislative and regulatory frameworks.

ENDS

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