From 10 March 2025, a number of adjustments to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme will take impact. These updates intention to make the system extra attentive to workforce wants whereas sustaining compliance necessities for employers hiring migrant employees.
If your corporation employs—or plans to make use of—migrant employees, right here’s what it’s worthwhile to know.
Removing of median wage necessities
One of many largest adjustments is that employers will now not have to pay AEWV holders at or above the median wage. As an alternative:
- Migrant employees should be paid at the least the New Zealand minimal wage (NZD $23.15 per hour, growing to NZD $23.50 per hour from 1 April 2025).
- Pay charges should nonetheless meet the market fee for the function and placement.
What about sector agreements?
Beforehand, some industries operated underneath sector agreements, permitting for exemptions to median wage guidelines. From 10 March 2025:
- All sector agreements offering median wage exemptions shall be eliminated.
- Sector agreements providing residence pathways will stay, with no adjustments to the wage thresholds required for residence.
- Roles beforehand lined by sector agreements will now be handled the identical as different roles at their ability degree—which means no extra caps or visa length limits linked to those agreements.
If your corporation beforehand relied on a sector settlement, now could be the time to assessment how this transformation impacts your workforce planning.
MSD engagement updates: New declaration-based course of
From 10 March 2025, employers hiring for ANZSCO ability degree 4 and 5 roles should nonetheless have interaction with the Ministry of Social Growth (MSD)—however the course of will change.
As an alternative of acquiring an Engagement Examine report, employers will now:
- Promote the function with MSD.
- Interview any candidates who could also be appropriate.
- Declare in good religion that this course of has been adopted when submitting a job test software.
What does this imply for employers?
- You now not want an official MSD report earlier than making use of for a job test.
- Nonetheless, you need to retain proof of engagement with MSD, as INZ could request proof throughout audits.
- MSD engagement can now occur alongside your different recruitment efforts.
This replace reduces administrative delays whereas guaranteeing employers proceed prioritising New Zealand employees.
Job test adjustments and hiring migrant employees
Job checks stay a core requirement of the AEWV course of, however some points are altering.
ANZSCO ability degree adjustments
Some roles shall be reclassified to a better ability degree underneath the Nationwide Occupation Record (NOL). From 10 March, sure roles will transfer from ANZSCO ability degree 4 to ability degree 3, which means:
- Shorter promoting intervals (14 days as an alternative of 21).
- No requirement to have interaction with MSD.
INZ has confirmed that job test functions in progress on 10 March shall be assessed underneath the brand new ability degree classifications.
Visa length updates
- AEWV holders in ANZSCO ability degree 4 and 5 roles will now be eligible for three-year work visas.
- If a job test software is in progress on 10 March, the brand new guidelines will apply when the AEWV software is submitted.
What employers have to do otherwise from 10 March
- Evaluation pay buildings: Guarantee roles meet minimal wage and market fee necessities.
- Replace recruitment processes: If hiring for ANZSCO degree 4 or 5 roles, be ready to declare MSD engagement reasonably than submit an engagement test report.
- Examine if job classifications have modified: If hiring for a job that’s now labeled as ability degree 3, you might have fewer promoting and compliance necessities.
- Plan for longer visa durations: Decrease-skilled AEWV holders could now keep for 3 years, decreasing visa renewal cycles.
Need assistance navigating these adjustments?
With these AEWV updates approaching, it’s necessary to make sure your corporation stays compliant and ready. Understanding these adjustments now may help streamline hiring processes and workforce planning for 2025.
📞 E book a workforce or development planning technique session to debate how these updates could affect your corporation.
