Photo: 123RF
Businesses in the Cook Islands are concerned new immigration rules recently introduced will make it hard to retain foreign workers.
The new regulations, agreed by Cabinet in April, under the requirements for international workers says: "Unless the applicant has special skills or is entitled to more favourable treatment under an international agreement (e.g. PACER Plus) a stay as an international worker cannot extend for a period of more than six years without a one-year break".
It adds: "at least 1 month out of every 36-month permit must have been spent offshore".
The policy has resulted in the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce and the Cook Island Tourism Industry Council preparing a submission to ask for some of the regulations to change.
Council president Liana Scott said the new rules would provide serious challenges and disrupt business operations.
"And also the unnecessary duplication of costs and finding temporary or replacement staff," said Scott, who is also the owner of the Muri Beach Club Hotel in Rarotonga.
"We have a depleting population, there's more Cook Islanders living in Auckland alone than the whole of the Cook Islands.
"In order for us and our economy to prosper, we need the staff to be able to deliver on the services we promise."
Scott said the hospitality industry was "crying out for workers" and the pathway for foreign workers in the Cook Islands to move to New Zealand or Australia was becoming...
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