The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) will be introduced on 4 July. The AEWV is a new temporary work visa that will replace the Essential Skills Work Visa and Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa.
As previously announced, employers can get accreditation to use the AEWV to hire migrants on visas for up to 3 years. From today, applications for job check are open to accredited employers. The job check is the second of a 3-step process to be able to hire a migrant worker.
Businesses are encouraged to attract, train, upskill and hire New Zealand workers. New Zealand workers are New Zealand citizens and New Zealand resident visa holders.
The AEWV is designed to ensure New Zealanders are first in line for jobs and accredited employers can hire migrant workers in occupations where there are genuine skill or labour shortages.
Accredited employers must submit a job check to hire a temporary migrant worker on an AEWV.
Job check approval expires after 6 months.
Accredited employers who pass the job check can ask a migrant worker to apply for an AEWV from 4 July 2022.
Requirements for Job Check
To pass the job check, all jobs must pay the market rate for the role.
Most jobs must have been advertised. Employers will need to declare they did not find suitable New Zealanders before offering the role to a migrant worker.
The median wage is being updated from NZD $27.00 to $27.76 an hour. This will apply to job check applications from 20 June 2022 and to AEWV applications from 4 July 2022.
Most jobs must pay the median wage, however, some are exempt as below
You must meet a pay threshold:
Specific jobs in construction and infrastructure, and tourism and hospitality must pay at least NZD $25 an hour.
Specific jobs in the care workforce sector must be paid at least NZD $25.39 an hour.
An AEWV holder paid below the median wage in these cases can hold the AEWV for 2 years before completing a stand-down for 12 consecutive months outside New Zealand, when they can get another AEWV for 2 years.
The migrant worker can get another visa for a job paid above the median wage without having to complete a stand-down period.
Sectors and exempt jobs
Sector — Construction and infrastructure
Fibrous plasterer
Fitter (general)
Fitter-Welder
Metal fabricator
Painting trades worker
Solid plasterer: ANZSCO
Wall and floor tiler: ANZSCO
Welder: ANZSCO
Sector — Care workforce
Aged or disabled carer
Child or youth residential care assistant
Disabilities services officer
Kaiāwhina (hauora) (Māori health assistant)
Nursing support worker
Personal care assistant
Residential care officer
Therapy aide
Sector — Tourism and hospitality (These roles are only exempt from paying the median wage threshold until April 2023.)
Accommodation and hospitality managers nec
Bar attendant
Barista
Cafe worker
Caravan park and camping ground manager
Commercial housekeeper
Conference and event organiser
Diving instructor (open water)
Doorperson or luggage porter
Fast food cook
Food trades assistants nec
Gallery or museum technician
Gaming worker
Hospitality workers nec
Hotel or motel manager
Hotel or motel receptionist
Hotel service manager
Hunting guide
Kitchenhand
Licensed club manager
Pastrycook's assistant
Tour guide
Travel agency manager
Travel attendants nec
Travel consultant
Trekking guide
Waiter