Tony Ryall

National Immigration Spokesman

18 August 2004

Door opened to jobless migrants, skills shortage continues

National's Immigration spokesman Tony Ryall says the Government's Mickey Mouse immigration policy will see more and more migrants coming to New Zealand without job offers, while we still have serious skills shortages.

The points requirement for skilled migrants has been reduced to 110. The requirement has gradually reduced since February when it stood at 195 points.

"Six months ago applicants needed a masters degree, 10 years work experience, a job offer and a healthy bank balance but now you don't even need a job," says Mr Ryall

"The Government is now targeting a lower proportion of people with job offers and the desperately needed skills the country is short of.

"At the same time, we are facing the worst skills shortage in quarter of a century.

"If we can't be consistent, skilled migrants won't bother coming here.

"The whole point of the earlier policy overhaul was to allow us to target skilled migrants, but the confused policy has left us having to take what we can get.

"It is taking far too long to get the right skilled migrants into the country. Our economy can't afford these delays, nor can it afford an incoherent government policy that chops and changes every five minutes," says Mr Ryall.

ENDS

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