Northland's hospitality sector will still struggle to meet the revised income threshold for migrant workers, a Thai restaurant owner says.
Charn Tiebtienrat, of the award-winning Suk Jai Thai Restaurant in Kensington, Whangarei, said immigration changes to come into effect from January 15, 2018, would give employers some breathing space but not much.
Immigration New Zealand has announced a slight increase in income threshold for skilled and semi-skilled migrant workers for them to be eligible for three-year visa renewal.
Semi-skilled workers such as chefs currently being paid $19.97 an hour or less need to receive $20.65 otherwise their current visas would not be renewed.
Those earning $35.24 an hour under the skilled category will need to earn $36.44 to
qualify for a rolling skilled work visa.