Photo: ODT filesThe Restaurant Association says the sector is in peril and the Government's visa extension does not go far enough. Those on a Seasonal Employment visa can now also pick up work in any industry, not just horticulture or viticulture. Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois said most of its temporary visa holders were on essential skills work visas and there was still no plan to extend these. The Restaurant Association wanted the Government to pause the planned increase to hourly wage thresholds when applying for an essential skills visa; extend the visas of all employer-assisted work visa holders; allow border exceptions for critical hospitality workers; and extend the hours those on student visas are allowed to work, Bidois said. The association launched a petition and will hold stop-work events to highlight staffing problems in the sector.

Source: Otago Daily Times June 10, 2021 01:30 UTC