Britain may ease OE rules

By BRONWYN SELL in London

Thousands more young New Zealanders heading to Britain will be able to work under plans to ease visa restrictions.

Under the proposed changes revealed last night, people aged up to 30 will be able to work in Britain for two years, can return for further two-year stints, and their choice of jobs will be widened.

The proposals come after Prime Minister Helen Clark lobbied her British counterpart, Tony Blair, in light of suggestions that New Zealanders would be restricted and more young workers admitted from other countries.

At the moment, the scheme allows people aged 17 to 27 to work for a single two-year stint, and restricts the jobs they can take.

Britain accepts 40,000 young workers from Commonwealth countries every year, including 7000 New Zealanders.

Under the changes, British employers will also be able to advertise jobs overseas.

At present, a working holidaymaker cannot have a job lined up before entering the country.

On releasing a consultation document on the changes, British Home Office Minister Lord Rooker said expanding the scheme would help to fill recruitment gaps.

"We are an open, trading nation and we need properly managed migration to ensure we have the people we need so that our economy can continue to flourish in the global marketplace."

Helen Clark wrote to Mr Blair in February to point out the mutual benefits of the present arrangement.

In the letter - released to the Herald this week under the Official Information Act, and only after the Ombudsman intervened twice to nudge the Prime Minister's office - Helen Clark said she had grave concerns about the proposed changes.

"New Zealand's ties with the United Kingdom are longstanding and strongly felt," she wrote.

"Anecdotal evidence suggests that our young people are warmly received by employers in the UK, who comment on their strong work ethic and on the difficulty of sourcing temporary staff in the tight labour market."

Mr Blair replied in March: "I know that young New Zealanders coming to the United Kingdom on the scheme are warmly received here.

"We are grateful for all the work they do, and welcome their strong work ethic and contribution to our labour market and economy.

"We do not want to restrict the ability of young New Zealanders to work and travel in the UK.

"I want to assure you that any reforms we make to the existing scheme will not erode the benefits to young New Zealanders."

The proposed changes are good news for people such as Auckland's Tania Irwin. The 26-year-old recently returned from a two-year stint in Britain, where she made the most of earning pounds and being based so close to Europe.

"If I could do it again I'd save money and travel around the places I didn't get around to seeing last time, like England.

"Because I lived there I just put it off and put it off and suddenly my visa expired and I had to come home without having a decent look around the country I was living in.

"I think heaps of people will try to go back and have another turn at living and working there. It's brilliant."

The Home Office is also expanding its Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme - rarely used by New Zealanders - to make it easier for travellers to work for short stints, usually around harvest time (August and September).

It is looking at lengthening the season, increasing the quota of workers and expanding the scheme beyond its present participating industries: fruit, flowers and potatoes.

Similar schemes will also be considered for the hospitality and construction industries.

The Home Office is consulting trade unions.

In the six months to June 2000, only one New Zealander entered Britain under the seasonal scheme, which is most popular among Eastern Europeans.

"If we can harness their vitality, skills and energy we can stimulate productivity, economic growth and job creation," said Lord Rooker.

The Home Office is asking for views on the proposed changes.

The consultation document will be available on the office's website.

British Home Office