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Restaurant Association concerned many hospo positions left off list of new visas

Hospitality Sector Alarmed as Key Roles Omitted from New Visa Green List

In a move that has sent ripples through New Zealand's hospitality industry, the Restaurant Association has voiced significant concerns over the exclusion of numerous essential positions from the government's newly announced visa categories. The association, representing a wide array of eateries, bars, and cafes across the country, fears that this oversight could deepen the already acute labor shortages plaguing the sector, particularly as it struggles to recover from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The controversy centers on the introduction of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and its associated "green list" of occupations eligible for streamlined immigration processes. This list, designed to attract skilled workers to fill critical gaps in the workforce, prioritizes roles in high-demand fields such as healthcare, engineering, and technology. However, many frontline hospitality jobs—roles that form the backbone of New Zealand's vibrant dining and tourism scenes—have been notably absent. Positions like restaurant managers, chefs, baristas, waitstaff, and kitchen hands, which are vital for daily operations, do not qualify for the expedited visa pathways, leaving employers to navigate more cumbersome and time-consuming application processes.

Marisa Bidois, the chief executive of the Restaurant Association, has been outspoken about the implications of this decision. She argues that the hospitality sector, often referred to as "hospo" in local parlance, is not just an economic driver but a cultural cornerstone of New Zealand society. "We're deeply concerned that so many key hospo positions have been left off the list," Bidois stated in a recent interview. "This industry employs tens of thousands of people and contributes billions to the economy annually. Without access to international talent, many businesses will struggle to stay afloat, especially in regional areas where local labor pools are limited."

The timing of this visa overhaul could not be worse for the sector. Hospitality has been one of the hardest-hit industries during the pandemic, with widespread closures, reduced hours, and a mass exodus of workers seeking more stable employment elsewhere. Border restrictions and lockdowns led to a significant loss of migrant workers, who traditionally fill a large portion of hospo roles. Now, as borders reopen and tourism begins to rebound, establishments are desperate to ramp up staffing to meet growing demand. Yet, the new visa rules appear to undervalue the skilled nature of hospitality work, categorizing it outside the "high-skill" thresholds required for green list inclusion.

Industry experts point out that this exclusion perpetuates a longstanding perception issue: hospitality is often seen as low-skilled or transient, despite the expertise required in areas like culinary arts, customer service, and operational management. For instance, a head chef might need years of specialized training to handle complex menus, dietary requirements, and high-pressure kitchen environments, yet such roles are not fast-tracked under the current system. Similarly, front-of-house staff play a crucial role in enhancing visitor experiences, which directly supports New Zealand's tourism economy—a sector valued at over $40 billion pre-pandemic.

The Restaurant Association's concerns are echoed by business owners on the ground. In Auckland, where the hospo scene is particularly dynamic, cafe owners report turning away customers due to understaffing. One proprietor in Wellington shared anecdotes of training programs falling short because of the inability to hire experienced international workers quickly. "We've got the demand, but not the people," she said. "If these visas don't adapt, we'll see more closures, especially in smaller towns reliant on seasonal tourism."

Broader economic ramifications are also at play. The hospitality industry employs around 140,000 people nationwide, with a significant portion being migrants on temporary visas. Excluding key roles from the green list could lead to increased wage pressures as businesses compete for a shrinking pool of domestic talent. This, in turn, might drive up menu prices, affecting affordability for everyday Kiwis and potentially dampening the post-pandemic recovery. Moreover, with global labor markets tightening, New Zealand risks losing out to countries like Australia, which have more inclusive visa policies for hospitality workers.

Advocates within the sector are calling for urgent revisions to the green list. The Restaurant Association has urged the government to reconsider the criteria, emphasizing that hospitality skills are transferable and essential for economic resilience. "We need a visa system that recognizes the value of all industries, not just the obvious ones," Bidois emphasized. Suggestions include creating a dedicated pathway for hospo roles or lowering the skill thresholds for positions proven to be in chronic shortage.

Government officials, however, defend the green list as a targeted approach to address the most pressing skill gaps, based on data from labor market analyses. Immigration Minister Michael Wood has indicated that the list is not set in stone and could be reviewed periodically. "We're committed to supporting industries like hospitality through other visa options," he noted, pointing to the AEWV's general framework that allows employers to sponsor workers, albeit with more red tape.

Despite these assurances, skepticism remains high. The Restaurant Association plans to lobby for changes, potentially through submissions to parliamentary committees or public campaigns highlighting success stories of migrant workers in hospo. For now, the industry holds its breath, hoping that policymakers will heed the warnings before the labor crunch becomes a full-blown crisis.

This situation underscores a larger debate in New Zealand about immigration policy in a post-COVID world. As the country seeks to rebuild its economy, balancing the needs of various sectors will be key. Hospitality, with its direct ties to tourism and community life, argues it deserves a seat at the table—or rather, a spot on the menu—of prioritized occupations. Without swift action, the omission could leave a bitter taste for an industry already pushed to its limits.

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Read the Full rnz Article at:
[ https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/569740/restaurant-association-concerned-many-hospo-positions-left-off-list-of-new-visas ]