Fenton Darien: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Fenton Darien: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 26 July 2012. Volume:682;Page:4020. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
8. 
DARIEN FENTON (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Immigration 
: What labour market testing requirements does Immigration New Zealand carry out before approving an employer’s application to bring foreign workers to New Zealand? 
Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister of Immigration) 
: 
 I have been advised by Immigration New Zealand that it undertakes a variety of labour-market checks where information from Work and Income recruitment efforts by the employers and the skills shortage lists are taken into account. In the case of approval in principle applications consultation is also undertaken with relevant unions guilds and industry training organisations. The labour-market test is there to ensure that migrant workers do not displace New Zealanders from employment opportunities. 
Darien Fenton 
: Is he confident that labour-market testing processes are robust enough to protect New Zealand jobs when Immigration New Zealand has just granted approval in principle to one company to bring in 110 so-called façade installers from China on the basis that there are no suitable New Zealanders able to either do the work or be trained to do the work? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: Yes I am satisfied in the system. 
Darien Fenton 
: What specific actions if any does Immigration New Zealand take to ensure that the job prerequisites are not overstated or exaggerated in order to artificially exclude New Zealand residents from consideration for work? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: As I mentioned in the answer to the primary question there is a very robust process that is worked through with Work and Income with the industry training organisation providers with the guilds and with the unions. There is a very robust process in place and I am satisfied with that process. 
Darien Fenton 
: In what part of the Government’s 120-point economic plan does it state that we will grow our economy and create jobs by bringing in migrant workers into temporary and fixed-term employment despite New Zealanders being ready and able to do this work or easily trained to do it? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: I am pleased that that member is applauding our 120-point plan which is very successful. It is interesting that Labour brought in the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme and if I could just quote from one of its members at the time a quote that is all about migrant workers in— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I am not sure that is exactly an answer to the question asked. It was not that specific a question but the answer should relate to the question and not wander a long way from it. If the Minister is not sure of the question I invite Darien Fenton to repeat it. 
Darien Fenton 
: In what part of the Government’s 120-point economic plan does it state that we will grow our economy and create jobs by bringing in migrant workers into temporary and fixed-term employment despite New Zealanders being ready and able to do this work or easily trained to do it? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: As the member knows we do require in our New Zealand economy some foreigners to ensure that we can continue to grow our economy. If I could please talk very briefly about the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme which was rolled out by that Government and which we are supporting Mr Mallard said: “There are always anxieties about the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme—about whether it is displacing New Zealand workers. Well I think there may be an argument in this case that it is actually creating jobs for New Zealand workers.” I agree with Mr Mallard’s statement. 
Darien Fenton 
: I seek leave to table a letter from the Amalgamated Workers Union to Minister Kate Wilkinson asking for a review of the decision to allow 110 workers to be employed on façade construction on the basis that the skill required is basic and New Zealanders could be trained to do this work— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.