Employers in rural areas encouraged to help migrant workers

Employers in rural areas are being encouraged to help their migrant workers get established in the community.

Rotorua Settlement Support provides migrant farmers and their families with resources to help them settle in the community, but also invites employers to play a more hands-on role to make them comfortable when they arrive.

Rotorua District Council Settlement Support officer Heather McAllister says newcomers who settle in rural communities often face more challenges than those who lay down roots in urban areas.

“Everyday tasks that we take for granted, such as buying clothing and furniture, going to the doctor, and enrolling our kids in school can be daunting for overseas people living in remote parts of the country.”

Ms McAllister says she is available to arrange English language lessons at home or in the workplace, provide translated resources for a new driver in New Zealand, give advice on how to survive the winter, healthcare eligibility, help people understand various documentation, and offer other useful information to make their transition easier.

“Employers can also make their migrant workers’ lives easier by perhaps making an older car available for their families to help with isolation, introducing them to churches, sports clubs, play centres and schools in the area, or checking up on their households to see that they have the basic necessities.

“These small details are often overlooked but can mean a world of difference to those unfamiliar with their new country.”