The Restaurant Association said that changes taking effect regarding international student work rights will support the industry.
The Restaurant Association has welcomed the changes to international student work rights coming into effect today, adding that the increased hours will provide timely support for hospitality businesses heading into the summer season.
From today, eligible international students can work up to 25 hours per week, up from the previous 20-hour limit, as part of the Government’s International Education Going for Growth Plan.
Restaurant Association Chief Executive Marisa Bidois said the announcement comes at an important time for the industry.
“While small, this increase in hours will be a welcome boost to our workforce, particularly as our industry enters what we hope will be a busy summer period.”
However, the Association said the requirement for many students to pay for a variation to their existing visa in order to access the extra hours risks undermining the policy.
Almost 75 percent of student visas with in-study work rights, or nearly 30,000 visas, are due to expire within the next five months, meaning a large proportion of students will have to either pay more than NZD 300 for a variation now or wait until their visa renewal, missing the summer peak entirely.
“We don’t see why students whose visas already contain a 20-hour work limit should have to pay hundreds of dollars for a variation,” said Bidois.
“If students wait for their visa renewal, our busiest period will be over and the benefits of this policy are effectively lost for a whole year.”
The Association is calling for the increased work hours to be automatically applied to all existing visas that currently contain a 20-hour work condition.
Bidois says today’s changes are a positive step, but the wider system must support international students to build careers in hospitality once they graduate.
“What our industry really needs are strong pathways to residency for international students who choose to study here,” said Bidois.
“It makes no sense that international students support our education system, but when they graduate with hospitality qualifications, we cannot retain their skills.”
The Association said a clear post-study pathway would help relieve skills shortages and protect students from exploitation by ensuring they have legitimate employment options.
“We urge the Government to prioritise policy that allows international graduates in hospitality to stay and work here. Giving them the right to contribute their skills will support business needs, strengthen our workforce, and create better protections for students.”
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