Migrant workers who have lost their jobs amid the COVID-19 crisis should contact their employers to obtain government wage subsidies,say political leaders.

With people being made redundant, jobs on hold, and the announcement of several business crisis package for New Zealand, those on work visas say they have not seen dedicated support for their group.

While one in fourmigrant arrivals were on a work visa in 2019,the number of migrant arrivals on work visas increased by 3100 (10 per cent) to 33,400 compared with the previous year.

RADIO TARANA

Labour list MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan talks to Radio Tarana's Vandhna Bhan about migrant workers who have lost jobs during this coronavirus crisis.

There are more migrants arriving every year with the number having doubled between 2010 and 2019.

There'sa significant numberIndians who are currently here on a work visa, but have now lost their jobs amid the COVID-19 crisis, a Radio Tarana survey has found.

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DOMINICO ZAPATA/STUFF

National Party leader Simon Bridges.

They work mostly in the hospitality industry and came to New Zealand under the skilled migrant workers shortage list.

Labour MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan advisesthose workers need to speak with their employers for them to apply for a wage subsidy for their workers.

"In terms of migrant workers, that is something the Immigration Minister is aware of and working on so all I can say at this moment is watch this space," Radhakrishnansaid.

Braden Fastier

Labour list MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, at a recent press conference,also pointed to the employer through the wage subsidy plan.

"We're giving greater flexibility to our benefit system," Ardern said.

"We acknowledge this is a time people are experiencing job loss. Our goal is to try keep people connected to their employer through the wage subsidy.

"If that's not happening we have the backup of our welfare system."

National Party leader Simon Bridges, in an interview on Tarana's Sunday@5 programme, said he hoped the issue would be resolved soon.

"There's a real problem here, we're going to have all these sorts of issues," Bridges said.

"We need to work through them urgently and make sure we're not just leaving people languishing there with no money, no support, literally in dire straits.

"We want our Kiwi Indians to stay in New Zealand, to contribute," Bridges said.

"We will get through COVID-19 and we know what a great contribution the Indian community has made so we have got to find ways to support through it in these types of situations where maybe it's not the right visa, maybe it's not the right residency, but we want to keep you here because of the contribution you make."

National MP Dr Paramjeet Parmarsaid the country needed to do all it could to hold on to these workers.

"If people decide to go back home to their countries in this time of crisis because they're not getting any financial support here, then it'll be very hard to bring those workers back when the economy regains and we need those migrant workers in our workforce."

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Wage subsidy is also for migrant workers who have lost their jobs, say leaders - Stuff.co.nz