17 October 2007

Cheap Foreign Labour Taking Skilled Kiwi Jobs

The Government’s skilled labour polices are being used to depress wages and force hardworking Kiwis out of jobs, says New Zealand First immigration spokesperson Peter Brown.

“As I outlined in the House today, many businesses are exploiting our skilled labour by bringing in foreign workers under the guise of filling New Zealand’s labour shortages but who instead are used to depress the wage of Kiwis already employed,” said Mr Brown.

“The number of letters and phone calls I have received recently indicates that this is a major issue.

“I am advised from several sources that companies in the telecommunications industry are bringing in technicians from the Philippines because they would work for much less than our highly skilled technicians. I have been advised that companies were not only specifically targeting such people, but also had the support of the Government to do so!

“Another letter details how a company advised staff that if they did not sign new contracts for lower pay they would be replaced by Filipinos currently being trained overseas.

“Such blatant and apparently Government sanctioned abuses of our highly skilled migrant policies are deeply concerning.

“Not only do such abuses exacerbate our skills shortages by forcing our already scarce people in highly skilled industries to move overseas for better wages , it enhances and prolongs the shortage as young Kiwis are reluctant to train in the affected areas as the future appears bleak.

“I strongly urge the Government to ensure that those coming to New Zealand to fill a skill shortage are here to genuinely fill shortages, and not to replace working New Zealanders or to discourage the training of young people,” said Mr Brown.

ENDS

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