Guidance for Assessing Teachers’ Salaries and Hours of Work Key Information

September 6, 2024

This INZ update released on 6 September 2024 provides crucial guidance to the visa officers on how to assess teachers’ salaries and hours of work for various visa application purposes, specifically the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and Skilled Migrant Residence (SMR) applications. Immigration instructions WA4.10 and SR2.5 outline the necessary steps.

Accredited Employer Work Visas

Visa Officers have been told that when assessing AEWV applications, it’s essential to note that some teachers may not provide evidence of a confirmed final salary. This is often due to the application being submitted before a final salary assessment is completed by Education Payroll Ltd (EPL), which is contracted by the Ministry of Education to provide such assessments. In these cases the visa officers need to consider the following:

• Interim Salary Assessment: If a final salary assessment is not completed, an interim assessment provided by EPL can be submitted.

• Collective Agreements: All state and state-integrated sector teachers are covered by collective agreements. These agreements specify market rates.

• Salary Range: If the interim salary or estimated salary range provided by the applicant falls within the range specified in the relevant collective agreement, it meets the requirements of immigration instructions WA4.10.

• Consultation: If there’s uncertainty regarding the skill level within the specified range, consult your Technical Advisor or Immigration Manager. Operations Support can also provide further advice.

Residence Applications

Visa officers have been also told that when assessing salaries for Straight to Residence (SR4.10), Skilled Migrant (SR3.20), and Work to Residence (SR5.10) applications:

• Salary Information: Always request salary information if the actual salary is not clear.

• No Estimates: Estimating salaries for residence visa applications is not appropriate.

Hours of Work

The visa officers have been communicated that according to the collective agreement:

• Full-Time Teachers: Expected to be paid for 40 hours per week, averaged out across the year, including school holidays.

• Term-Time Hours: Timetabled hours during term time are 20-25 hours per week, with the remainder dedicated to lesson planning and administrative tasks.

• Hourly Rate Calculation: Use 40 hours per week as the standard for full-time teachers when calculating the hourly rate.

Collective Agreements

Below are the links to the relevant collective agreements with clauses that should be referred to during the assessment of relevant visa applications:

Primary School Collective Agreement

• Qualification Group Guidelines – Clause 3.3

• Salary Scale – Clause 3.2

Area School Collective Agreement

• Qualification Group Guidelines – Clause 3.1.3

• Salary Scale – Clause 3.1.2

Secondary School Collective Agreement

• Salary Scale and Qualification Group Guidelines – Clauses 4.1.1 and 4.1.2

Conclusion

For accurate and efficient assessment of teachers’ salaries and hours of work for visa applications, being aware of these outlined instructions and consulting Licensed Immigration Advisers at Immigration New Zealand is vital.