Immigration New Zealand is working closely with the migrant workers formerly employed at Pike River coal to explore all their options, the Head of Immigration New Zealand Nigel Bickle said today.

None of the workers or their families have been asked to leave the country, Mr Bickle says.

“We understand this is a difficult time for the affected migrant workers and their families.

“We have reassured them they can remain on a temporary visa so they all have sufficient time to make decisions about their future. This includes allowing them to obtain alternative offers of employment” he says.

“We want to ensure that all migrant workers who have lost their jobs have sufficient time to seek alternative offers of employment and to make decisions about their longer term future”.

Each request will be decided on a case by case basis so that the type and duration of any visa issued will depend on their individual circumstances, he says.

Immigration New Zealand staff were in Greymouth late last week talking with the affected workers at the Housing New Zealand offices and exploring all the options with them. Some of the affected workers were told that we would be back in touch in late January to see what further assistance we could give.

“In the meantime we are there to assist them with any immigration requirements they may have and will be contacting them again today reassuring them that we are there to help them,” Mr Bickle says.

(Source DOL)

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