Fears of skilled staff shortages if INZ changes job status

An agricultural industry trainer is worried that any future Immigration New Zealand decision to remove dairy farm workers from the country's skills shortage list could strand dairy farmers without sufficient staff.

Federated Farmers' lobbying has resulted in an about-turn by Immigration New Zealand in June to remove skilled dairy workers from the Immediate Skills Shortage List (ISSL).

The dairy industry in New Zealand currently employs about 1300 migrant workers from countries such as the Philippines, Chile and South Africa.

However, despite the change of heart, AgITO dairying adviser Jock McEwen, of Timaru, said the issue was of concern.

His fears are not so much based on fewer staff being allowed into the country, but on the future of staff already here, now trained and making a significant contribution to the industry.

"I became concerned at Immigration New Zealand's recent suggestion made because it [Immigration NZ] thought the recession had reduced job opportunities on farms," Mr McEwen said.

"I think the number of jobs has contracted slightly, but my worries are more about the guys that are fully functional and valued employees on farms who were not yet residents.

"They could still be living in fear of being sent home [if Immigration New Zealand again considered changing the status of their jobs].

"All of a sudden we would have to find hundreds of workers from somewhere," Mr McEwen said.

Farmers had increased herd sizes, bought or leased more land, made financial commitments, increased their milk company shares on the back of knowing that they had a labour force, he said.

"If that disappeared, the New Zealand dairy industry could be in serious trouble."