Employment

New Zealand employees are seeking more flexibility in their hours and location of work, according to a survey from Stats NZ.

Go with Tourism is seeking ambitious workers to step up and shape their careers in a new leadership coaching competition.

Three new working holiday visas between the United Kingdom and New Zealand will come into force by 1 July this year.

Tourism Minister Peeni Henare and the Better Work plan leaders on the crucial issue of funding.

The National Party has criticised the Better Work Action Plan for failing to address the staff shortages being suffered across the tourism sector.

Stress, insufficient pay, poor work-life balance and a lack of better opportunities contribute to staff churn rates.

The tourism minister says it will address ongoing challenges in the workforce and create a new standard for employment.

Air New Zealand is increasing its parental leave benefits for employees at the airline.

The government’s latest increase to the minimum wage has met a mixed reception from industry groups, whose members are already grappling with rising costs.

Go with Tourism has launched a new campaign showcasing tourism businesses and employers providing staff with a great working environment.

The unemployment rate rose ever slightly to 3.4% in the December quarter, according to the latest figures from Stats NZ.

Salaries in the hospitality and tourism sector have risen 9% year-on-year, according to new data from Trade Me Jobs.

Employer accreditations are extended and bus drivers get a boost but there’s little for hard-hit hospo.

The Restaurant Association, HCA, and Bus and Coach say their sectors need an estimated 33k workers to meet demand this summer.

Labour’s inaction has left the tourism and hospitality sectors facing a critical shortage of workers and risks leaving struggling business poorer, McClay says.

Businesses need to refocus investment on maintaining yield with fewer staff.

Accor Pacific is expanding its diversity policy for employees with the introduction of what it calls an industry-leading gender transitioning policy.

Nearly half of the 36,000 working holiday visa holders approved since March this year are now in the country, says the government.

The Backpacker Youth Adventure Travel Association (BYATA) of New Zealand is asking major banks why they are preventing international working holidaymakers from receiving bank accounts.

Average hourly wages have grown to $37.86 – a 7.4% increase during the September quarter and outpacing 7.2% inflation, according to Stats NZ.

Thousands of working holidaymakers on their way to New Zealand will have more flexibility and extended entry rights to help plug labour shortages at Kiwi businesses.

Tourism New Zealand is looking for a new chairperson to take on the leadership of the board and the crown entity.

Online job advertisements for hospitality roles are growing faster than any other sector as demand for labour remains high.

Visa processing times are not as much of a barrier to filling workforce shortages as encouraging visitors and working holidaymakers to actually embark on travel.

Fiordland businesses are suffering at the hands of the government’s changes to the working holiday visa and skilled migrant categories, says National Party Southland MP Joseph Mooney.

A West Coast recruitment campaign is seeking people Cut out for the Coast to fill jobs in the region.

Wage increases for international workers will only fuel inflation, says BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope.

Auckland ferry operator Fullers360 says it is short 60 positions to run its optimal summer schedule.

Hospitality New Zealand is anticipating a move to relax immigration requirements for skilled chefs wanting to come and work in the country.

The government has introduced Worker Protection (Migrant and Other Employees) Bill to protect migrant workers from exploitation.

The government says it has received around 30,500 working holiday visa applications in the past year.

Wellington Airport will have more than 220 jobs on offer, including entry-level, highly-skilled and shiftwork positions at its job fair this month.

Unite Union members took strike action against SkyCity Entertainment Group on Saturday in efforts to improve pay conditions for security, hotel housekeepers and cleaning staff at the company.

SkyCity and worker’s union E tū have struck a collective pay deal that will see staff paid the living wage of $23.65 an hour after they have completed a year’s service.

The government’s first residence category for highly-skilled workers has opened this week, with the launch of the Green List Straight to Residence pathway.

More than 350 accredited Living Wage Employers must now pay the new living wage of $23.65 an hour to directly employed staff and regular contractors.

An “exodus of youth” employees could hit NZ’s tourism hotspots just as the peak season starts.

The ITP does not set out to solve immediate challenges such as the current labour shortage.

Kiwi tourists are not the only ones being lured across the ditch, with tourism and hospo staff sought to plug Australian labour gaps.

The seasonal snow and adventure tourism agreement will provide access to migrant workers for $25 per hour, to be reviewed up annually.

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre says it is growing quicker than expected and is now looking for new staff ahead of schedule.

SkyCity is hosting an employment open day in Auckland today as it looks to fill more than 500 vacancies across the business.

Median weekly earnings from wages and salaries have risen 8.8% in the year to June, now outstripping the effects of inflation which sits at 7.3%.

More than 85,000 people have been approved for the 2021 Resident Visa, providing more certainty for businesses and skilled migrants.

The Ministry of Social Development is partnering with Hilton Lake Taupo to address the chronic labour shortage plaguing hospitality and tourism.

Employers looking to hire the visa holders need to appear as attractive as possible amid fierce competition.

SkyCity has offered a pay rise of between 4% to 6% in its latest round of negotiations with Unite Union.

Unemployment figures remain near record lows at 3.3%, and BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope says there is not enough flexibility in the tight labour market to address skill shortages.

The borders are open, but now New Zealand needs to remain competitive and attractive to tourists in a global market.

Jobs, jobs, jobs at Auckland Airport’s Jobs Fair on Saturday, courtesy of TVNZ.