Report reveals lack of information about OE

By PAUL GREGORY in London

The British Government's plan to curb working holidays is proceeding, although it doesn't know what thousands of young New Zealanders actually do on their great OE.

The working holiday visa looks likely to be cut from two years to one as reported in the Weekend Herald last Saturday.

But a key document behind the proposal admits that little is known about the effects young Antipodeans have on the labour market.

It reveals that the British Government has no idea how many of the 46,000 people granted the visa each year - 97 per cent of them from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - are actually working at any one time. And whether they are doling out pints or working in high-tech industries.

The six-figure, 300-page report - produced by the Migration Research Unit at University College in London - concludes that the UK benefits from "positively welcoming" young working migrants, characterising them as "a youthful workforce with less demanding requirements for permanent accommodation and support services".

News that the visa may be shortened has prompted a flurry of discussion on expat internet billboards, with some New Zealanders suggesting their own Government is secretly backing the change.

"To combat brain drain they chose an easier option than making New Zealand a more attractive place to stay," wrote "James" in a typical comment.

Others spoke of the Government being keen to discourage those with student loans from going overseas.

But New Zealanders already in the UK claim this is losing sight of the original purpose of the visas - giving young Commonwealth citizens hampered by poor exchange rates a chance to travel abroad.

In a European Union-focused Britain such an argument may hold little sway.

The report, prepared after the Home Office requested "serious research" into migration policy, and incorporating 25 years of data from Government sources, was presented to the British Government last month.

It is hazy on anything other than how many holidaymaker visas are granted each year.

New Zealanders made up 8075 of the 45,797 working holiday visas granted in 1999, and 3679 of the 22,260 granted from January to June 2000.

"While little is known about their [Antipodean visa holders] characteristics, it may reasonably be assumed that they are generally well-educated and adaptable," the report said.

Information collected from visitor cards confirms that New Zealand and Australian working holidaymakers are mostly professionals (41.8 per cent in 2000), who intend working in finance and banking (26.6 per cent), or transport and communications (36.7 per cent). But whether they fulfil their intentions is not documented.

The report emphasises the contributions made by working immigrants to the British economy, and to the provision of public services - "particularly in areas where labour shortages are acute" - like nursing and teaching.

It also points towards involving employers - some of New Zealand workers' biggest advocates - in immigration policy, which may affect demand-driven jobs like financial services and IT.

Firm proposals for change are expected in April, the new High Commissioner to New Zealand, Richard Fell, said this week.

He emphasised that those people now holding visas would not be affected by any decision made.