NZ workforce requirements for the construction sector
From 27 November 2023, the workforce requirement for accredited labour hire employers placing AEWV holders in specific construction sector roles will be a minimum of 35% New Zealand citizens or residents in full-time employment.
From 27 November 2023, accredited employers who place AEWV holders with controlling third parties in specific construction occupations must have at least 35% of their workforce made up of New Zealand citizens or residents in full-time employment. This applies only to the construction occupations shown below.
We will assess the New Zealand workforce threshold at both the accreditation and Job Check stages.
Existing accredited employers will not lose their current accreditation because they do not meet the new 35% threshold. However, we will not approve a further Job Check until the new threshold is met.
Construction sector occupations affected
This minimum workforce requirements relates to the following occupations in the construction sector:
- Bricklayer
- Builder’s labourer
- Building insulation installer
- Carpenter
- Carpenter and joiner
- Concreter
- Construction rigger
- Crane chaser
- Drainage, sewerage and stormwater labourer
- Driller’s assistant
- Earthmoving labourer
- Fencer
- Fibrous plasterer
- Fitter (general)
- Floor Finisher
- Floor finisher
- Glazier
- Home improvement installer
- Joiner
- Lagger
- Linemarker
- Metal fabricator
- Painting trades worker
- Paving and surfacing labourer
- Plumber’s assistant
- Plumbers Assistant
- Railway track worker
- Roof Plumber
- Roof Tiler
- Scaffolder
- Solid Plasterer
- Steel Fixer
- Stonemason
- Structural Steel Erector
- Surveyors Assistant
- Wall and Floor Tiler
For more information about these changes and why we are making them:
Changes to 90-day trial periods on Accredited Employer Work Visa and AEWV labour hire (triangular) employment threshold workers