Immigration Rules Relaxed for Supermarket Employees
From 25 March 2020 until 25 April 2020 (inclusive) Immigration New Zealand have relaxed restrictions for supermarket employees who hold work and student visas, provided that they were employed by a supermarket on 23 March 2020. These changes are in response to supermarkets experiencing an immediate labour shortage due in part to an increased demand for shelf re-stocking.
The effect of these changes allow:
work visa holders to work in roles other than specified on their visa; and
student visa holders to work more than 20 hours per week.
During this period work and student visa holders can complete any tasks associated with the supply of goods to, from, or within a supermarket.
In these circumstances Immigration New Zealand defines a supermarket as being limited to retailers selling primarily food and groceries, who are affiliated with Woolworths New Zealand Limited, Foodstuffs North Island Limited or Foodstuffs South Island Limited. If a visa holder’s employer does not meet this definition of supermarket they will not be entitled to rely on the temporary relaxation of restrictions.
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Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is of a general nature and is not intended as legal advice. It is important that you seek legal advice that is specific to your circumstances.
