Café managers may join teachers and construction managers in being eligible for fast-tracked immigration permits under a new proposal by the government. Under the changes, employers won’t have to prove that there are no capable candidates in New Zealand and overseas workers will find it easier to be granted work visas.
The move was welcomed by the hospitality industry, with the Restaurant Association of New Zealand applying to add café and restaurant managers to the list, as they are not currently on any priority list despite the well-documented worker shortage.
A 2016 survey found that only 1 percent of hospitality establishments were able to find a suitable manager through Work and Income, and 32 percent found that it took over six months to find a suitable candidate.
