Employing migrants and refugees

Media release

Potential Benefits and challenges when employing migrants and refugees

14 May 2009

Immigration continues to be a vital component in building a skilled and knowledgeable workforce contributing towards economic growth in New Zealand.

“Migrants are vital to the New Zealand’s economy as they will fill the gaps in the skilled workforce and inject cash into the economy as soon as they land.” Says UK economist Philippe Lergrain.

Despite the current economic downturn, some employers are still struggling to find skill employees. Immigration New Zealand had identified 119 occupations with immediate skill shortages for the Auckland Region as of March 2009.

“We want to give employers an opportunity to discuss the potential benefits and challenges they face when employing migrants and refugees.” Says Bevan Chuang, Settlement Support Coordinator – Auckland City for Auckland Regional Migrant Services (ARMS).

“It will give opportunities for employers to share experiences and ask questions to people who had the same experience.”

Key guest speakers for this presentation includes Mr. Raymond Huo, Labour List MP, Mr. Arthur Chin, Head of Asian Banking for ANZ National Bank, Mr. Mitchell Pham, Manager for AugeneHEALTH & AugenAsia, and Justin Treagus, Programme Director for Omega.

Huo arrived in New Zealand in 1994 from Beijing and is currently the Labour spokesperson on Law Commission, Statistics and Associate Spokesperson for Ethnic Affairs.

Chin relocated from Singapore 13 years ago, and has lived in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.

Pham arrived in New Zealand as a refugee from Vietnam in the early 1980s and established Augen in August 1993.

Treagus arrived in New Zealand in 2005 from Cape Town and have been the Programme Director for Omega since 2008.

Details:

Date:                Wednesday 20 May 2009, 10.00am – 1.00pm

Venue:             Pioneer Women’s Hall – Corner of High Street & Freyberg Place – Auckland CBD

Lunch provided.

 
ends

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