In Australia the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) is the list of occupations that are prioritised with Visa processing, some of these occupations including accountants, taxation accountants and internal and external auditors.
This list also includes occupations such as chefs, nurses and other occupations that are deemed necessary for economic recovery from Covid-19. This is Australia’s way of processing Visa applications that is becoming quite similar to New Zealand’s immigration rules.
The New Zealand government has introduced border exceptions, attempting to keep Covid-19 out and still benefit the economy. Many families have been separated due to the border closure, and now have a chance at reuniting.
There are many rules for this border exception. A notable one being that skilled workers are allowed to bring their families in to join them without having to leave the country. This rule attempts to keep high-skilled workers in New Zealand to help with economic recovery, which certainly makes it easier for these families but excludes others from reuniting. The other families who have been separated by border closures don’t get this opportunity if their occupation doesn’t fulfil these certain criteria.
Simon Grant, executive from from Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand approved of these changes as there has been a lack of auditors since border restrictions. This change can help with certain skill shortages and help create opportunities. However, rules imposed by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) could also be doing more bad than good to the economy.
If New Zealand continues to only allow ‘high skilled’ workers into the country, a country that typically relies on a range of skill sets from overseas and locally to fulfil demand for labour job then the local supply may not be able to keep up with demand.
The type of work that was deemed essential during lockdown is now denied entry to New Zealand. “Prioritising visa relaxations based on workers’ skills or the capacity to generate wealth is not only against basic human rights, but is not aligned with brand New Zealand as known internationally,” says Anu Kaloti, president of the Migrant Workers Association NZ.