Reforms will help with staffing pressures, says DairyNZ.

DairyNZ has welcomed changes to migrant visas that will help ease staffing pressures for dairy farmers.

Last month the government announced changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa that will reduce the minimum experience requirement to two years and increase the visa duration for some workers to three years.

DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker said DairyNZ data shows that 16% of farms do not have enough staff to meet their needs.

“While our sector employs significant numbers of New Zealanders, international workers have filled a genuine gap in the workforce,” he said.

“Reducing the experience requirement for migrants from three years to two ensures migrants are sufficiently skilled while increasing the number of available workers. Increasing the visa duration to three years for some workers will also help add certainty for farmers over the different seasons.”

Other changes announced include the removal of median wage requirements.

“The dairy sector is committed to offering competitive wages for skills and experience,” Campbell said.

“However, we face the dual challenge of a tight local labour market and New Zealand equivalent farm experience not being readily available overseas. As a result, the majority of our international workforce start as entry-level farm assistants, making it challenging for businesses to justify paying the median wage.”

Campbell said the key issue is finding the right set of capabilities, as farm businesses are complex and require a range of skills.

“These new changes will align wages with local workers while helping to create a pathway for migrants.

“We will continue working with the government to ensure the immigration system is robust, sustainable, and works for farmers.”

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