Change of law should end student exploitation
June Ranson
New Zealand’s immigration laws must be changed to stop overseas students from being exploited by unscrupulous employers and overseas unlicensed agents.
Exploitation of students, which has recently been highlighted in the media, starts in their home country.
They are being enticed to study in New Zealand with false promises of developing their career in this country and gaining New Zealand residence.
Rouge Agents
The New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment (NZAMI) believes that the problem of migrant exploitation, such as seen in the recent Masala Restaurants and other cases, starts at the agent recruiting the student in India.
In 2008, The New Zealand government introduced the system of licensing of immigration advisors, according to which, any person giving immigration advice about New Zealand must be licensed or have an exemption.
In May 2010, an exemption was granted to offshore persons to become Student Agents. Self-appointed agents, who negotiated arrangements with education institutions in New Zealand and introduced prospective students, quickly picked up this exemption.
The people overseas providing guidance and organising their student visas for New Zealand are not necessarily qualified to do so.
They are enticing students to enrol in low-level Management courses in New Zealand without a thought for the likelihood of them getting work once they have completed the course, and building expectations that the student will be eligible to apply for residence after study.
Students coming straight out of study are most unlikely to obtain a management position in New Zealand, but this is of little concern to the unlicensed agent offshore, as they would have been well paid by the time the student completes the course.
Government initiatives
The government announced initiatives last year to encourage further growth in our $2.6 billion international education sector, which is the second major revenue earner for New Zealand.
India is New Zealand’s biggest growth market for students.
These students and their families sacrifice everything to come and study in New Zealand. Many of the students already hold Bachelor degrees or some other sort of qualifications gained at highly reputable universities.
One would have to question why they are being strongly encouraged by these agents to come and study low-level business qualifications.
We believe it is a quick, moneymaking opportunity for agents who have no responsibility for what happens to these students.
Shoddy employers
These students would have a far better chance of gaining permanent residence in New Zealand if they were given guidance about courses that would better suit their circumstances such as post-graduate studies in the area of their studies back home.
This has now encouraged some disreputable employers to take advantage.
The current approach of the government is very short sighted and shameful, with no long-term focus.
This approach will undoubtedly damage the opportunity for trade as the exploited students will return to their home countries with a poor impression of the country and they could well be the future leaders of our trading partners.
June Ranson is Chairperson of the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment (NMAMI), membership to which is a robust process. Members are either lawyers or licensed immigration advisers upholding professional standards and complying with the strict Code of Ethics established by NZAMI. This Code requires them to uphold the integrity of the New Zealand immigration system and respect the vulnerability of migrants at all times.
Website: www.nzami.co.nz
