15 November 2005

Skills Shortage List Must Be Amended - Brown

New Zealand First Deputy Leader and Labour spokesperson Peter Brown today sought an assurance from the Government that they would remove “Aircraft Engineer” from the list of immediate skills shortages produced by the Immigration Service if Air New Zealand went through with its plans to make 617 local engineers redundant.

The New Zealand Immigration Service produces an immediate skill shortage list to enhance and streamline the processing of work permits and visas and to fast track applications for residency from people with skills urgently required in New Zealand.

Mr Brown says the Government should first do all it can to dissuade Air New Zealand from implementing its plan to sack highly skilled New Zealanders in favour of having their planes serviced more cheaply overseas.

“Continuing to allow preferential entry to New Zealand for foreign aircraft engineers while scores of New Zealand aircraft engineers are being made redundant would be nonsensical,” said Mr Brown

“Such a move would display a complete lack of commitment to New Zealand workers and to the opportunities for our own engineers.

“If the worst were to happen and the engineers were made redundant, it is of vital importance that New Zealand does not seek to recruit aircraft engineers from overseas while New Zealanders with the same skills remain unemployed," concluded Mr Brown.

ENDS

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