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| Hospitality Magazine column Paralysis in the bureaucracy Fear of getting it wrong is creating paralysis in the bureaucracy. Immigration services are declining temporary work permits – not because there are New Zealanders readily available to fill these roles – but through fear that they will become another headline like the Taranaki Welders. This fear is understandable in the face of the blame game New Zealanders and the media seem addicted to. We must, as a nation, cure ourselves of this addiction if we hope to survive through this recession. There are currently thousands of hospitality workers who are working in New Zealand on a temporary work permit. They are the right people doing work for which a year ago, two years ago, or even three years ago there were no New Zealanders available, willing and able to carry out those duties. Despite unemployment rising to 5%, little has changed and there are few New Zealanders willing and capable of filling these roles. Indeed in Queenstown at last count, there were two people on the unemployment benefit. The Hospitality Association has been leading discussions with the Ministry of Social Development and the Immigration services to provide systems and confidence for these temporary work permits to be renewed. This must occur to ensure business continuity and that this source of labour continues to be available in the future. While the hospitality industry will always look to employ New Zealanders first, the short, medium and long term realities of the labour market suggest that there are many roles in hospitality in New Zealand for which we will need to continue to look to the international labour market. It is hoped that the Association’s advocacy will give our public servants confidence to make decisions to keep temporary workers in jobs where there are no New Zealanders able to do the work. Bruce H Robertson 5 May 2009 |
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