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The Star 7<br />
News<br />
Latest Christchurch news at www.<br />
Migrant workers drive down pay rates<br />
.kiwi<br />
Thursday March 9 2017<br />
•From page 1<br />
He said many jobs offered also<br />
did not have guaranteed hours,<br />
which left people who had families<br />
struggling.<br />
The Government scheme has<br />
made it easier for foreigners to<br />
move to Canterbury to help with<br />
the rebuild, by “streamlining”<br />
the application process, allowing<br />
workers to stay longer and letting<br />
them change employers while in<br />
Canterbury without having to<br />
reapply for a visa.<br />
Canterbury Employers’ Chamber<br />
of Commerce chief executive<br />
Peter Townsend said he didn’t<br />
think foreign workers were driving<br />
down pay rates.<br />
“A lot of work is going on, and<br />
there is still a high demand for<br />
workers in our city,” he said.<br />
He believed the rebuild winddown<br />
was still at least a year<br />
away, and at that point he said<br />
a lot of effort would be made<br />
to transition people into other<br />
industries, like tourism.<br />
Immigration Minister Michael<br />
Woodhouse said yesterday he<br />
was committed to ensuring<br />
“Kiwis are at the front of the<br />
queue for jobs.”<br />
He said employers who looked<br />
for workers overseas had to first<br />
advertise the job and engage with<br />
Work and Income to see if they<br />
could hire locals first.<br />
“We are constantly monitoring<br />
our immigration settings to<br />
ensure they are fit for purpose<br />
and I’m confident we have those<br />
settings right,” he said.<br />
•Are you struggling to<br />
find work? Email<br />
gabrielle.stuart@starmedia.<br />
kiwi<br />
CHANGE: Migrants are willing<br />
to work for a lot less than local<br />
contractors, which is driving<br />
down pay rates.<br />
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN<br />
THE FIGURES<br />
2016:<br />
1564 foreign rebuild<br />
workers brought in, 28 per<br />
cent unskilled<br />
10,357 Cantabrians on<br />
Jobseeker benefits<br />
2015:<br />
2781 foreign rebuild workers<br />
brought in, 28 per cent<br />
unskilled<br />
9302 Cantabrians on<br />
Jobseeker benefits<br />
2014:<br />
1947 foreign rebuild workers<br />
brought in, 17 per cent<br />
unskilled<br />
8032 Cantabrians on<br />
Jobseeker benefits<br />
2013:<br />
1276 foreign rebuild workers<br />
brought in, 13 per cent<br />
unskilled<br />
9590 Cantabrians on<br />
Jobseeker benefits<br />
RESULTS<br />
Some Cantabrians have been able to move on with their lives since<br />
the earthquakes, but we know many have been left behind. For<br />
these people the daily stress of dealing with insurance companies or<br />
EQC is still very real. We are Earthquake Services, claim advocates<br />
specialising in helping people like you resolve your claims<br />
and achieve the results you’re entitled to.<br />
Contact us today. We’re here to help.<br />
• The Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor is a special place for many people.<br />
• This year, Regenerate Christchurch is planning for the future of the<br />
river corridor’s red zone.<br />
• What do you know about the land and the river that we need to<br />
think about?<br />
We would like the knowledge, wisdom and experiences of people and<br />
communities to help shape our planning. Your contribution will be added<br />
to an online, publically accessible database.<br />
Share your knowledge and experiences by<br />
18 March at engage.regeneratechristchurch.nz<br />
or write to Regenerate Christchurch,<br />
PO Box 32, Christchurch.<br />
SHARE ONLINE AT<br />
engage.regeneratechristchurch.nz<br />
CALL<br />
TODAY<br />
377 8855<br />
Contact us today - call 03 377 8855 or visit earthquakeservices.co.nz.<br />
We’re located at 127 Ferry Road, Christchurch.
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