MONIQUE FORD/STUFF
BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope is disappointed with the Government’s announcment that opening of the borders will not see a return to previous immigration levels.
Nash pointed out that in the decade prior to Covid-19, the number of people on temporary work visas doubled to more than 200,000, making up almost 5 per cent of New Zealand's labour force, which was high compared to other OECD countries.
He said that, rather than investing in plant and machinery to increase production, or employing and up-skilling Kiwis, businesses had been able to suppress wages by relying on lower skilled migrants.