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Hiring Migrant Workers

The Accreditation Process

Before you can invite a worker to apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) you must:

apply for employer accreditation,
advertise the role if you need to, and
apply for a Job Check

Levels of Accreditation

Standard accreditation - for hiring up to 5 migrants.
High-volume accreditation - for hiring 6 or more migrants.
Franchisee accreditation.
Controlling third-party accreditation - for those placing migrants with third parties while being the direct employer.

Advertise the role & apply for a job check

Before you can apply for a Job Check you may need to advertise to check there are no New Zealanders available for the job.

Once the advertising has been completed, apply for the Job Check if you haven't found any suitable New Zealander for the role.

Once the job check is approved, the migrant worker can apply for the Accredited Employer Work Visa.

Tips - Hiring Overseas

Hiring from overseas requires patience and perseverance. It can be a more complex, costly, and time-consuming process than hiring locally. We present some expert pointers below that may make your overseas hiring process a bit easier.

Getting Ready - Planning

Key Considerations When Hiring Overseas Talent:

Verify Job Vacancy Requirements - Ensure that your job vacancy meets the criteria for one of the applicable visa categories.
Understand Visa Support - Familiarize yourself with the steps required to support a migrant’s visa application.
Identify Candidate Locations - Determine which country or countries are most likely to have suitable candidates for your role.
Consider International Recruitment Regulations - Be aware of any specific rules and regulations that may apply when recruiting from certain countries.
Set Realistic Timeframes - Account for the time needed for the recruitment and visa application process, as well as the migrant worker’s preparations for relocation. This may include selling their home, gathering necessary documents, and obtaining occupational registration if required.

Additional Factors to Keep in Mind:

Onboarding Timeline - Estimate how long it will take to get your new hire up to speed.
Process Management - Determine who will be responsible for managing the recruitment and immigration process.
Handling High Volumes - Plan how you will manage a large number of applications from potential candidates.

Considering these factors can help ensure a smooth hiring process when bringing overseas talent into your organization.

Promoting the vacancy & Selection

Considerations When Promoting Your Job Vacancy Overseas:

Advertising Channels - Decide where you will advertise your position. Consider options such as your website, job boards, trade publications, or migration and recruitment expos.
Timing and Response - Keep in mind that you may not receive a strong response during overseas holiday periods.
Industry Events - Explore hiring events in your industry or international migration shows that you could attend to connect with potential candidates.

Considerations When Selecting an Overseas Migrant Worker:

Clear Communication - The wording of your interview questions can influence how well a migrant candidate understands you and the quality of their responses. Be clear and specific in your communication and explain what you are looking for in their answers.
Interview Techniques - Migrant candidates may not be familiar with certain questioning styles commonly used in New Zealand, such as behavioral interviewing. Allow them time to think through their responses and provide thoughtful answers.

Taking these factors into account can help you effectively promote your job vacancy overseas and select the right candidate for your organization.

Hiring from the Philipines

New Zealand employers looking to hire Filipino workers must:

Comply with DMW Regulations - Adhere to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) rules and regulations.
Verify Worker Approval - Ensure the worker has the necessary approval to leave the Philippines.
Engage a Licensed Recruitment Agent - Use a DMW-licensed recruitment agent, if required.

Pre-Recruitment Steps

Before starting the recruitment process, you or your agent should contact the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) to learn about:

The specific requirements for hiring overseas Filipino workers.
The process for applying for Foreign Employer accreditation.

Additional Requirements for Hiring Multiple Workers

If you plan to hire six or more Filipino workers, you must engage a DMW-licensed agent.

Recruitment Agent Options

If you wish to hire an agent to manage the recruitment process, you have the following options:

A New Zealand agent to engage a licensed DMW recruitment agent in the Philippines.
An approved DMW-licensed New Zealand agent.
A Philippines-based DMW-licensed recruitment agent.

Understanding these requirements will help you navigate the recruitment process and ensure compliance with regulations when hiring Filipino workers for your business.

Find the overseas hiring process daunting?

Let us handle your overseas hiring needs with confidence. We understand exactly what Immigration New Zealand requires and have a proven track record of successfully placing migrant workers from South Africa, Singapore, India, and Sri Lanka with New Zealand employers.