27th October 2004
The Government has today announced changes to the Skilled Migrant Category. These will come into effect on 1 December as follows:
>> Increasing the points awarded for qualifications (5 extra points), work experience (5 extra points) and skilled employment (5 extra points) for jobs on the Priority Occupation List. Occupations on the list at present include automotive mechanics, Radiologists, Electricians, and speech therapists etc.
>> Clarifying the definition of skilled employment to provide greater recognition of the expertise individuals have obtained through relevant qualifications or previous skilled work experience. Clarification also recognises a wider range of skills and occupations and expands the current list to include skills such as electroplaters, drainlayers and police and corrections officers.
>> Operational policy will be amended to make it clearer that skilled applicants without a job offer can, if they are assessed as being highly employable, be granted permanent residence without a job offer. This will include people with qualifications and work experience in areas of absolute skill shortage or future growth. Examples include nurses, teachers, ICT and the creative industries.
>> Recognising a broader rage of qualifications in the trade area where they meet industry needs. The Department of Labour has been working with various Industry Training Organisations to identify those level three qualifications that meet New Zealand industry standards. These are being compiled based on an individual's ability to work autonomously in that industry while holding a level three qualification and include such trades as roofers, power boat technicians and electrical service technicians. The list of acceptable trades is also being expanded to recognise a broader range of level four qualifications where they also meet industry requirements and the individual is able to work autonomously. These include plastics engineers, small goods (meat) manufacturing and petrochemical industry workers.
>> Amending the policy to clarify that applicants can be part way through a series of contracts (rather than having 12 months of upcoming work). This change is expected to encourage more self-employed people to apply under the SMC and would therefore facilitate the entry of people with a wide range of skills and innovative experience.
>> Providing 10 extra points for having close family support in New Zealand. This enhances prospects for employability and settlement. Close family is adult siblings and adult children (17 years and over) and parents of either the principal applicant or their partner.
In addition to these policy changes, operational initiatives were announced to support efforts to attract skilled migrants and improve the delivery of policy.
The first is in the area of marketing. In addition to the overseas marketing campaigns aimed at the UK and the US, those with the skills New Zealand needs who are already in New Zealand on work permits or have recently graduated after studying in New Zealand will be targeted.
This will involve writing to those in New Zealand and for those interested in residence the Department will then run seminars or provide additional information that will help them put in an expression of interest.
