5734 (2024). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister of Immigration

5734 (2024). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister of Immigration: Is it the Government's intention that people can work as an Uber driver in addition to their primary work whilst holding an Accredited Employer Work visa, and if not, why not?

Hon Erica Stanford: Currently, Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWVs) are subject to conditions that the holders may only work in a specified occupation. This is the intention of the visa category, as it is designed to allow migrants to fill short-term labour shortages by granting them a temporary work visa to fill a specific vacancy where the employer has been unable to find suitable and available New Zealanders. Granting AEWVs for a specific job for a specific employer helps to ensure that migrant workers do not arrive in New Zealand without a job to go to, and that they are not employed in roles that could be done by New Zealand workers. The Government is currently not intending to alter AEWV conditions to allow secondary employment, as migrants should be earning a sufficient income if their proposed remuneration is genuinely being paid to them.