The Government is pausing the increase of the median wage rate for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) that was due to go up in February 2024.

The pause means the rate for workers on an AEWV will remain at the current rate of NZD$29.66 an hour. The pause also extends to median wage requirements for partners of workers.

All other sector agreements and exemptions to the median wage will also remain in place based on the current rate.

The new median wage of NZD$31.61 an hour will still apply to other visa categories that use it from February 2024, such as the Skilled Migrant Category and Parent Category.

The pause allows time for decisions to be taken on alternatives to the median wage threshold in the AEWV, which the Government has committed to removing.

More information on future median wage settings for the AEWV will be announced in due course.