For immediate release
Thursday 18 December 2008

ANZ National bank seeks exemption to employ non-residents during recession

Bank workers’ union Finsec is calling on the Department of Labour to reject ANZ National bank’s application for an exemption that would allow it to streamline the recruitment of non-resident workers for certain roles. Finsec says the bank should be required to invest in local jobs and training instead.

The rules of the Department of Labour scheme require companies to have a high standard and commitment to training and employing New Zealand residents in order to gain accreditation that allows them to fast track the appointment of non-residents.

“This year, ANZ National has announced plans to send around 500 jobs to India, cut around 200 frontline jobs in ANZ branches, announced plans to make about 200 management roles redundant and the tax payer has agreed to underwrite their deposits and borrowing. Now they want the state to support their choice of employing non-residents during a recession when local unemployment is rising,” said Finsec Campaigns Director Andrew Campbell.

“In these circumstances, our largest employer should be made to employ and train locals to fill such vacancies. There are plenty of people within the bank who have been or are about to be made redundant and who are looking for jobs,” said Campbell.

ANZ National has engaged in significant restructuring processes this year that could result in more that 900 jobs being cut including around 500 jobs being offshored.

“By the bank’s own admission a key reason for this offshoring is the cheaper costs of labour in India. They cannot say they have a commitment to employing New Zealanders when they will happily make so many people unemployed and send jobs offshore in order to boost already huge profits,” said Campbell.

“We call on the Department of Labour to decline the bank’s application and require them to employ locally and commit to industry training for their staff,” said Campbell.

ENDS

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