With skill shortages continuing across New Zealand’s trades, manufacturing, and industrial sectors, many employers are looking offshore to find the reliable workers they need. One of the most trusted sources of skilled labour globally is the Philippines.
Filipino workers are playing an increasingly vital role in keeping New Zealand’s factories operating, trades projects moving forward, and production targets on track. With the right support, recruiting from the Philippines can be straightforward, fully compliant, and highly effective.
Why Filipino workers are in demand in New Zealand
Employers across New Zealand consistently praise Filipino workers for their technical capability, professionalism, and commitment. Many have trained and worked in highly regulated industries overseas and bring valuable experience to local workplaces. In particular, Filipino workers are well suited to:
- Skilled trade roles such as welding, fitting, fabrication, and heavy machinery operation.
- Manufacturing positions in high-volume or precision production environments.
- Factory-based roles that require strong process understanding and reliability.
Known for their high work standards, strong teamwork, English fluency, and willingness to adapt to new systems, Filipino workers are making an increasingly valuable contribution to New Zealand and Australian industries where productivity and quality are critical.
What employers need to know about compliance
Recruiting workers from the Philippines involves more than just finding the right candidates. It requires compliance with both New Zealand immigration rules and the employment regulations set out by the Philippine government.
The DMW (Department of Migrant Workers) has strict procedures in place to protect its citizens working abroad. These include ensuring candidates are not charged recruitment fees, that their job offers are legitimate, and that their deployment is properly managed through licensed, ethical channels.
New Zealand employers must also ensure all immigration and visa processes are correctly handled, and that candidates receive accurate information, fair employment terms, and the support they need to succeed.
Failure to follow these procedures can result in delays, declined visa applications, or serious legal and reputational consequences.
Leaders in ethical Filipino recruitment since 2015
At Working In, we’ve been helping New Zealand employers recruit ethically from the Philippines for over a decade. Our dedicated recruitment, immigration, and compliance teams manage the entire process from start to finish, ensuring a professional, stress-free experience for your business.
When recruiting from the Philippines, we provide:
- Ethical, skilled sourcing through trusted channels.
- Screening and shortlisting to match the right candidates to the right roles.
- Visa and immigration processing through our in-house Licensed Immigration Advisers.
- Full DMW compliance and management of documentation and deployment.
- Pre-departure support and cultural preparation for candidates.
- Ongoing communication and advice to support a smooth integration into your workforce.
Our approach ensures that workers arrive well-prepared and ready to contribute and that your business is fully compliant at every stage.
Start building a stronger workforce today
If you’re in the trades, manufacturing, or factory sectors and struggling to find skilled, committed workers locally, now is the time to explore overseas recruitment.
Filipino workers can bring world-class experience, reliability, and long-term potential to your team. We’re here to help you access that talent pool the right way — efficiently, ethically, and with full support from our team.
Contact us today to discuss your workforce needs and find out how we can help you secure the people you need to move your business forward.
