New Zealand Seeks Skilled Workers from Overseas

The New Zealand government has announced changes in its immigration policy to attract skilled workers from countries such as China and India, because of shortages at home. The country's immigration minister told a local radio station that New Zealand's information-technology sector is desperate for skilled professionals. Cabinet papers obtained by the station say New Zealand's immigration rules need an overhaul to compete with other developed nations for skilled labor.

The proposed changes include streamlined applications from skilled, potential migrants and handling residency applications in New Zealand, rather than abroad.

The minister said the policy continues to target skills without regard to applicants' national origin or race. He added that the policy had not changed to favor one country's workers over another's, but named India and China as examples of sources for skilled workers.

新西兰政府宣布，由于国内人力资源短缺，对移民政策进行修改，吸引来自像中国和印度等国家的技术工人。新西兰移民部长对当地一家电台说，新西兰信息技术产业急需专业技术人员。这家电台得到的内阁文件说，为了与其他发达国家竞争技术劳工，新西兰移民政策需要全面修改。

提议的修改内容包括简化技术和潜在移民的申请，在新西兰国内、而不是在国外办理永久居民申请案。

新西兰移民部长说，移民政策将继续以吸引技术劳工为目标，不分国籍或种族。他补充说，这项政策改变并不偏向某些国家的工人，但是在谈技术人员来源的时候提到中国和印度。