Not the time to be smart about immigration

Jacqui Dean is the MP for Waitaki

Tourism and hospitality businesses have had some incredibly tough years. Just as things started to heat up, the government’s immigration agencies have seen some closing their doors — turning away the very customers they so desperately need.

I’ve had many difficult conversations with business owners over the past two years as border closures and lockdowns jeopardized the viability of their operation. I’ve heard the pain in their voices as they describe the stress and worry of paying off debt, paying bills, and taking care of their families.

For those who can sustain it, their predicament has shifted. The customers are there and international visitors are returning, but they can’t get the staff they need to work at full capacity.

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The business owners who have contacted me have made an extensive search for staff and would love to hire New Zealanders but the reality is that New Zealanders are not applying for these jobs.

We could debate why unemployed Kiwis don’t apply for these positions, but that’s a debate for another day. At the moment we need foreign workers so that companies can keep their doors open.

I have seen email exchanges between business owners and Immigration NZ and understand why these people are at their wits’ end. When multiple job openings are advertised and applications are not received, the matter should be clear to foreign workers.

Responsibility for the current institutions and backlog lies with the government. They were warned of serious staff shortages, but prioritized ideology over the need for companies to make money again.

I had hoped that the new immigration minister, Michael Wood, would have come into the role with fresh eyes and a willingness to see what the tourism and hospitality industry is experiencing.

But his comments that employers need to do more to attract employees proved that he is cut from the same cloth as his predecessor. His comments were insulting and a blatant attempt to evade responsibility.

This government must accept responsibility for its immigration failures.

I know that the stories shared with me have also been shared with Labor MPs. Surely they need to make sure that entrepreneurs have to close their doors and turn down customers and revenue, all because of a staff shortage that is not needed?

Some of those who have been in contact with me say they are exhausted, as are their current employees. They want to take care of their employees and make sure they get the breaks they need, so they spend significant amounts of money to attract more staff. The Minister of Immigration does not seem aware of these efforts.

The minister has said that rebalancing immigration rather than relying on a cheap labor model remains the government’s top priority for the portfolio. I’d be much happier if his top priority was to help businesses keep their doors open.

Over the past two years, tourism and the hospitality industry have taken a heavy burden on their shoulders. Some went into hibernation, while others changed their business model to try and wait out the pandemic in the hopes that better times would come once restrictions were lifted and the border reopened.

To be in a position where money can finally be made but they can’t hire the staff they need to do it is beyond frustrating.

It seems unfathomable to me that at a time when our economy is struggling, the government is making decisions that make it more difficult for companies to make money, spend money and reinvest in their business.

It’s no wonder that NZIER’s latest quarterly business opinion survey shows business confidence is at its weakest level since March 2020, with 62 percent of companies reporting they expect worse times.

This is a wake up call. Increasing regulation and costs through the proposed income insurance, fair pay agreements and other inflationary pressures mean pessimism is understandable.

Businesses are the engine of our economy, growing prosperity and creating jobs and incomes. Their struggle is bad news for all New Zealanders and points to more problems for our economy.

Now is not the time for the government to be smart about immigration, it is a time to provide the workers this country so desperately needs.