Sector Agreements
The Government has announced details of the Sector Agreements for:
- Care Workforce with 2-year Work to Residence pathway
- Transport with 2-year Work to Residence pathway
- Construction and Infrastructure
- Meat Processing
- Seafood (onshore)
- Seafood (sea-based)
- Seasonal Snow and Adventure Tourism
These Sector Agreements provide limited exceptions to the median wage requirement when hiring migrants on an Accredited Employer Work Visa for certain occupations (and the Fishing Crew Work Visa for fishing crew), in exchange for ongoing improvements within these sectors.
Each sector agreement has different requirements around duration of the agreement, number of workers allowed, wage threshold and visa duration.
- Duration: 2 years - ending October 2024
- Number of migrant workers permitted: Uncapped
- Wage threshold: NZD $26.16/hr (Level 3 rate)
- Maximum visa duration & stand downs: Up to 2 years at Level 3 rate. After 2 years, a stand down period will apply and migrant won't be able to apply for another AEWV paying below the Level 4 rate ($28.25/hr) for at least 12 months
- Occupations:
- Aged and Disabled Carers
- Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant
- Disabilities Services Officer
- Diversional Therapist
- Kaiāwhina (Hauora) (Māori Health Assistant)
- Nursing Support Worker
- Personal Care Assistant
- Residential Care Officer
- Therapy Aide
- Care workers who are paid at least NZD $28.25/hr (Level 4 rate) will be able to apply for residence from 29 September 2023 if they have completed the 2 years of work requirements
- Duration: will be reviewed after 12 months - April 2024
- Number of migrant workers permitted: uncapped
- Wage threshold: NZD $28/hr for Bus Drivers. Other roles covered by the Transport Sector Agreement are not exempt from the median wage threshold, as the market rate for skilled workers in these roles is already above the median wage
- Maximum visa duration & stand downs: 3 years for Bus Drivers despite being paid below the median wage. This will ensure they have enough time to complete their 2 years of work in NZ required to apply for residence. No stand down
- The following occupations will have a 2-year work to residence pathway:
- Bus driver
- Truck driver
- Aircraft refueller
- Furniture removalist
- Tanker driver
- Tow truck driver
- Ship’s master
- Deck hand
- These roles will be able to apply for residence from 29 September 2023 if they have completed the 2 years of work requirements
- Duration: 2 years - ending October 2024
- Number of migrant workers permitted: Uncapped
- Wage threshold: NZD $26.69/hr
- Maximum visa duration & stand downs: Up to 2 years at below median wage (currently $29.66/hr). After 2 years, a stand down period will apply and migrant won't be able to apply for another AEWV paying below median wage for at least 12 months
- Occupations:
- AC and Refrigeration Mechanic
- Bricklayer
- Builder’s Labourers
- Carpenter
- Carpenter and Joiner
- Drainage
- Fibrous Plasterer
- Fitter (General)
- Fitter-Welder
- Floor Finishers
- Glazier
- Landscape Gardener
- Metal fabricator
- Painting Trade Workers
- Painting Trades Worker
- Plumber’s Assistant
- Roof Plumber
- Roof Tiler
- Sewerage and Stormwater Labourer
- Solid Plasterer
- Stonemasons
- Wall and Floor Tiler
- Welder
- Duration: 2 years - to be replaced with a Pacific Programme set up in 2024
- Number of migrant workers permitted: capped at 320/year for 2 years
- Wage threshold: NZD $25.51/hr
- Maximum visa duration & stand downs: Up to 7 months at below median wage (currently $29.66/hr). After 7 months, a 4 month stand down period will apply and the migrant won’t be able to apply for another AEWV paying below median wage work until the next season
- Occupations: Meat Process Worker, including red meat and pork processing
- Duration: 2 years - to be replaced with a Pacific Programme set up in 2024
- Number of migrant workers permitted: capped at 600/year for 2 years
- Wage threshold: NZD $25.51/hr
- Maximum visa duration & stand downs: Up to 7 months at below median wage (currently $29.66/hr). After 7 months, a 4 month stand down period will apply and the migrant won’t be able to apply for another AEWV paying below median wage work until the next season
- Occupations: Seafood Process Worker
- Duration: Cap to remain indefinitely
- Number of migrant workers permitted: capped at 940/year
- Wage threshold: NZD $26.70/hr
- Maximum visa duration & stand downs: Up to 12 months (status quo). No stand down
- Occupations: All roles currently covered by the Foreign Fishing Crew (FFC) visa
- Duration: Until February 2025
- Number of migrant workers permitted: uncapped
- Wage threshold: NZD $26.69/hr
- Maximum visa duration & stand downs: Up to 7 months. Multiple AEWVs below median wage can be granted to allow for movement between roles across seasons
- Occupations:
- Mountain and Glacier Guides
- Outdoor Adventure Guides not elsewhere classified
- Outdoor Adventure Instructors
- Parachute Rigger and Ski Technician (within ANZSCO Technicians and Trades Workers not elsewhere classified)
- Snow Groomers (within ANZSCO Mobile Plant Operators not elsewhere classified)
- Snow Maker (within ANZSCO Stationary Plant Operators not elsewhere classified)
- Snowsport Instructors
- Whitewater Rafting Guides
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