New Zealand sets 30-day limit for AEWV workers outside approved location

New Zealand has introduced a 30-day work location limit for foreign AEWV workers operating outside their approved area, according to recent clarification. Employers must specify the location of an AEWV role when applying for a job check, particularly where the position spans multiple sites. For workers frequently moving between locations such as construction sites, company branches, or regional offices, employers must include all relevant locations in the job check and demonstrate that the role was advertised at each site.

AEWV holders can temporarily work outside their approved location for up to 30 working days within a 12-month period without needing another job check, facilitating occasional assignments or business travel. However, once work outside the approved area surpasses 30 working days, additional immigration steps are required. The employer must then initiate a new job check for the new location, while the foreign worker needs to obtain an approved Job Change before commencing work there.

This clarification is crucial for migrant workers in occupations requiring frequent movement between sites. For employers, accounting for multiple locations from the outset of the job check process is essential rather than treating them as temporary assignments. The recent clarification follows a series of changes to New Zealand's immigration and employment framework for foreign workers, including revised employment conditions for open work visa holders and the introduction of new visa categories for graduates.