Sector agreements and wage exemptions for AEWV workers
Before 10 March 2025, employers could hire workers on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) at less than the median wage for some jobs that were included in a sector agreement or wage exemption. Workers included in a sector agreement or wage exemption may also be exempt from meeting AEWV minimum skill requirements.
Note
The sector agreements and wage exemptions that were in place before 10 March 2025 no longer apply. However, some AEWV workers included in a sector agreement or wage exemption may still be exempt from meeting AEWV minimum skill requirements.
If you are hired after 10 March 2025
From 10 March 2025, if you are being hired on an AEWV you must be paid at least the
Sector agreements and wage exemptions before 10 March 2025
Sector agreements had exemptions for median wage requirements. Some also had a capped recruitment limit and an exemption to AEWV minimum skill requirements.
The exemption to minimum skill requirements still applies for some jobs that were included in a sector agreement or wage exemption.
Sector agreements
Before 10 March 2025, these sectors had agreements with the government that let them pay less than NZD $29.66 an hour (the February 2023 median wage rate) for some jobs.
Sectors that were covered by sector agreements:
- care workforce
- seafood processing (onshore)
- construction and infrastructure
- meat processing
- seasonal snow and adventure tourism
- transport.
Wage exemptions
The tourism and hospitality sector had a temporary exemption that allowed them to pay less than NZD $29.66 an hour.
Find out if your job was a part of a sector agreement or wage agreement before March 10 2025.
AEWV jobs that were part of a sector agreement or wage exemption
AEWV minimum skill requirement exemptions
You may not need to provide evidence showing you meet minimum skill requirements for the AEWV, if your job was part of the:
- meat processing sector agreement
- seafood processing sector agreement
- care workforce sector agreement, or
- tourism and hospitality wage exemption.
This exemption still applies for these jobs, even though sector agreements and wage exemptions ended on 10 March 2025.
Find out if your job is exempt from meeting AEWV minimum skill requirements here:
AEWV jobs that were part of a sector agreement or wage exemption
Sector agreements and pathways to residence
Some jobs that were covered by a sector agreement provide a work to residence pathway. This means the migrant worker can apply for residence once they have completed 24 months of work experience in New Zealand.
Unless there is an exception in place, AEWV workers wanting to claim work experience as part of their residence application must be paid at least:
- the
that was in place when their visa application was accepted, and - the current median wage when they apply for their resident visa.
Work experience exceptions and median wage exceptions
Care workforce
Migrant workers covered by the care workforce agreement must be paid at least NZD $28.25 an hour during their work experience.
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
Transport Work to Residence Visa
Changes were made to the Transport Work to Residence Visa on 7 April 2024. As part of these changes some roles were removed from the list of transport roles eligible for residence through work.
Bus drivers who applied for their visa on or before 6 April 2024 and were successful in their visa application can continue to gain work experience for the Transport Work to Residence Visa. They must have been paid at least NZD $28.00 an hour during their work experience.
Transport Work to Residence Visa
Changes to Work to Residence and occupations on the Green List
AEWW jobs that were part of a sector agreement or wage exemption
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