If you're an accredited employer, you may already know that post-accreditation checks are underway. This process is conducted by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) to ensure that accredited employers are compliant with accreditation requirements and to identify instances of migrant worker exploitation.

In this blog post, we'll go over what you need to know about post-accreditation checks and what to expect if your business is selected for the process.

What Are Post-accreditation Checks?

Post-accreditation checks are conducted by the MBIE to ensure that accredited employers are meeting the requirements of their accreditation.

Post-accreditation checks may include:

• A review of financial statements to demonstrate financial viability
• Evidence of PAYE payments to migrant employees
• Evidence of how offshore recruitment agents of their migrant employees were paid
• Hiring dates of migrant employees
• Evidence that settlement information was provided to migrant employees
• Logs of hours worked by migrant workers
• Information on which key persons are involved in the business and their roles.

Why Are Post-accreditation Checks Important?

Post-accreditation checks are important because they help to ensure that accredited employers are not exploiting migrant workers. These checks also help to maintain the integrity of the Accredited Employer Work Visa program, which is designed to help New Zealand employers attract and retain highly skilled migrant workers.

What to Expect if Your Business Is Selected for Post-accreditation Checks?

If your business is selected for post-accreditation checks, the MBIE may want information from you to confirm the undertakings and statements made in your accreditation application.

You may be asked to provide documentation such as financial statements, evidence of PAYE payments to migrant employees, and evidence of how offshore recruitment agents of your migrant employees were paid. A site visit may also be conducted by MBIE staff in some cases if this is the best way to gather the information.

How to Prepare for Post-accreditation Checks?

To prepare for post-accreditation checks, it is important to ensure that your business is complying with the requirements of your accreditation. This includes keeping accurate records of PAYE payments to migrant employees, settlement information provided to migrant employees, and logs of hours worked by migrant workers. You should also ensure that your financial statements are up to date and demonstrate your business's financial viability.

Conclusion

In summary, post-accreditation checks are an important part of the Accredited Employer Work Visa program. These checks help to ensure that accredited employers are not exploiting migrant workers and maintain the integrity of the program.

If your business is selected for post-accreditation checks, it is important to be prepared and provide the MBIE with the information they need to confirm your compliance with accreditation requirements.

If you need more clarity, then feel free to book a consultation with us.