Job rule for migrants not working Carter admits
Tuesday January 23, 2007
By Simon Collins

Ethnic Affairs Minister Chris Carter has conceded a policy requiring borderline skilled immigrants to get jobs within six months appears to be failing.

He discussed the issue with Immigration Minister David Cunliffe yesterday after earlier planning to bring it up at the Cabinet table before today's first Cabinet meeting of the year.

The Filipino Society has sent a 1300-name petition to Mr Carter, Mr Cunliffe and Prime Minister Helen Clark seeking a reinstatement of the former policy that gave skilled immigrants two-year work permits to find jobs which they could then use to apply for permanent residence.

The permits were reduced to six months from December 21, 2005. Migrants must now hold a job in their skilled field for at least three months in that six-month period to qualify for permanent residence.

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