The Hospitality NZ chief executive Julie White and Immigration advisor Katy Armstrong are "delighted," by the Government's decision to remove the qualification requirement for migrant chefs.
On Sunday, the Government announced the qualification requirement for chefs to be hired through an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) has been removed.
"We agree with the hospitality industry that removing the qualification requirement for chefs to be hired through an AEWV will allow those top-rated chefs who have trained at the coalface to come to NZ. This will take effect from 18 October," Immigration Minister Michael Wood said.
On Monday, Armstrong told AM she was "delighted" by the Government's decision.
This comes after AM spent months covering the issue to try and get the Government to remove the requirement.
"Obviously we are delighted. It's very satisfying to get [the]policy to where it should be."
White agreed and said she finally felt heard by the Government.
"They actually heard us and even in the media release they said they agree with us."
Both White and Armstrong told AM the Government waited far too long to remove the requirement.
"My only regret is that It's taken this long to get here," Armstrong said.
"The fact that there was a delay it actually has caused some issues for some of the businesses," White said.
The Immigration Minister said a new median wage of $29.66 per hour will also be put into the immigration system on February 27, 2023.
Armstrong said she is concerned about the wage increase because it is not going to apply for everyone.
"It talks about hospitality as if it was one homogenous thing but actually there's a list of specific roles that get exempted from the median wage."
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