The Productivity Commission has published its draft report on its inquiry into immigration settings ahead of the Government’s reset policy announcement
A lack of transparency and a disconnection from other policies has made immigration over the past decade ※unsustainable§, the Productivity Commission says in the preliminary findings of its inquiry into immigration settings.
The Government commissioned the independent Crown entity to review New Zealand’s immigration settings to best facilitate long-term economic growth as part of the immigration reset announced earlier this year.
Infrastructure and housing supply have not kept up with population growth and future planning for global ageing populations and climate change, the Productivity Commission says.
The report, which received?73 submissions, has 13 findings, nine recommendations and seven questions it is seeking further submissions on?before the full report is published in April.?
※Most insights about how ministers consider questions of immigration objectives and outcomes have been revealed through interested members of the public requesting advice under the Official Information Act 1982,§ the report says.
Immigration should be required to explicitly consider how well New Zealand can support and settle more people and the Government should be obliged to publicly state its objectives and priorities, as well as?the steps it will take to ensure that public investment matches need, the Commission recommends.
Immigration advisor Erin Goodhue earlier this year revealed that Immigration NZ created unofficial rules to handle backlogs of residency applications.
Goodhue, who is a former Immigration NZ official, says Immigration NZ as an organisation is ※not in a healthy condition§.
※There was a time where immigration was dynamic and innovative and we were always looking for better ways to do things. But they seem to have fallen by the wayside recently,§ Goodhue says.
※I think staff are ridiculously under-trained and not at the level they need to be able to handle these really important decisions about people’s lives.§
The report also reiterates findings from a previous inquiry into immigration settings by think tank New Zealand Institute of Economic Research for the Productivity Commission, which?highlighted the country has relied too heavily on temporary migrants for lower-skilled jobs.
The Commission does not recommend sudden reductions in volumes, as this could have negative effects on the wellbeing of both New Zealanders and migrants and may harm the country’s international reputation. It plans to take on further work to manage?short-term risks and pressures, with a view to providing advice in the final report.
Commission chairman Ganesh Nana says the number of temporary migrant visas with pathways to residence should be linked to the number of residence visas on offer.
※Large queues for residency have left many migrants in flux and unable to settle,§ Nana says.
※The mismatch between migrant expectations and the reality of residence falls well short of manaakitanga, and is not good for our international reputation as global competition for some skilled migrants intensifies.§
The report is also suggesting the Government remove?visa conditions that tie a migrant to a specific employer. ※These conditions make migrants more vulnerable to exploitation and limit the ability of migrants to find jobs that best meet their skills and experience,§?Nana says.
This has been something migrant workers rights advocates have been calling for for years to stop migrant exploitation.
Sociologist Paul Spoonley says the report is the tightening up of policy settings around temporary workers and the opportunity for them to transition to residency.
※It’s asking for better evidence about what happens when migrants get here, both to them and to our local labour market.§
He says for much of New Zealand’s history, immigration policy has focused on permanent migration and settlement but over the past decade the composition of immigration to New Zealand has shifted significantly towards temporary migration in response to demands from employers for workers.
※The report suggests that some industries might need to justify why they’re on the skills shortage list. Tying migration more to demand in the local labour market.§
The Commission also highlighted the absence of explicit reference to the Treaty of Waitangi in immigration policy.?
One of its recommendations includes recognising migrants’ efforts to learn te reo as a commitment to New Zealand.?
The Productivity Commission plans to undertake immigration research investigating the outcomes of temporary and permanent migrants arriving between 1999 and 2020, the impact of seasonal migrants and studying productivity and wage differentials between migrant and local workers?ahead of the final report.
It is seeking further submissions until December 24.