A survey of employers conducted by law firm Simpson Grierson shows significant unease with the prospect of Fair Pay Agreements. Simpson Grierson’s survey of business clients shows 81% of respondents consider their business will be impacted by FPAs, noting workload, cost, pay relativity and competitive challenges the FPA Bill will create. “The consequence of this may also mean that employers, and likely small businesses, may need to reduce the number of employees it employs in order to keep up with the FPA process,” Simpson Grierson’s submission on FPAs says.

The OECD Economic Outlook 2022 warns NZ’s inflation risks are ‘tilted to the downside,’ and recommends that NZ should curb spending and fiscal stimulus . Noting the NZ Govt’s recent short-term subsidies for fuel tax, road user charges, public transport and additional income support, the OECD says future support should be more targeted to avoid fuelling inflation, and says NZ should consider delaying some infrastructure projects planned for this year. The OECD also says more immigration is needed to aid NZ’s GDP growth.

Job check applications open on 20 June for employers wishing to hire workers from overseas. Employers must be accredited and have advertised the role in NZ before applying for a job check, requiring a position to pay more than $27.76 per hour unless it’s on an exemption list. Immigration NZ says the process ensures employers hire New Zealanders first before considering migrants, and that only viable businesses with good practices are able to hire migrants. Applications for the new Employer Accredited Work Visa open on 4 July.

Some companies are employing staff based overseas because of skill shortages in NZ, BusinessNZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard says. Employing people overseas to work remotely for companies here in NZ is one approach for responding to labour shortages and the higher wage thresholds required under Immigration NZ visa regulations: "NZ’s population size means skill shortages are inevitable," Catherine Beard says. “It’s difficult to grow scaled up businesses off the back of a small population, and employers need to look at all options for obtaining staff.”

BusinessNZ says policies for ‘managed retreat’ from sea encroachment need better data and guidance. Responding the Environment Ministry’s draft National Adaptation Plan for climate change, BusinessNZ says more data is needed on risk levels, and a technical working group is needed to consider e.g. an appropriate threshold for requiring people to move in response to climate change, how to ensure compensation for removal or restrictions of land use, and how to avoid inappropriate incentives for households or businesses to continue developing in at-risk areas.