A migrant plumber may not just go self-employed.
1] First step is the limited license, which you
must have ,to work legally with plumbing or gas.
Even then , you will be on a lower rate of pay, and must be supervised by a Registered Craftsman with all your work being inspected and signed off.
[ok plumbing guys - we know thats not what happens in practice and why]
2] Take & pass the annual registration exams. UK qualification assessment before this is allowed by PGDB....IF UK quals not acceptable to PGDB also sit and pass National exams.
3] Sit practical assessments.Full-time at a training provider, 3 wks plumbing , 1wk gas. [however no-one seems to have settled on what exactly this will entail for the migrant] For us it means one month away in Wellington - unpaid , plus funding the course and accom. etc.
4] Work within your trade as a Registered plumber etc. for
two years.
5] Following two years, sit your Master Craftsman exam and any further practical assessments.
6] Bingo
. Three /Four years on you are now a Master Craftsman Kiwi style and are allowed to legally become self-employed in NZ..... if you have survived financially - that is.
This does not apply to those with the means to set up a plumbing business , as opposed to self employment , and employ said Master and Registered craftsmen.
DanPoll
We know another plumber up here in Nelson who is on $17 per hour plus 50 cents tool allowance. Went for another job and got offered $15 per hour.
When we were job hunting the rate did vary. In Hastings Phil was offered just $17 per hour.
A company in Wanaka offered him $22 plus tool allowance, but it was just too expensive to live there at all.
We didn't get to Christchurch or Dunners, cos we settled on the Nelson job offer.
Couple of chippies we know of here are on $15 per hour.. though Phil met one on site that was $17 per hour.. thats good for a chippy. Chippies do seem to be the worst paid here, unless they go on to be builders themselves.
Iain
THe company Phil works for ,Days, has just been bought by a Christchurch Maintenance company. The new owners are Geoff something or other!. We have hopes for these new owners.
We know a bloke who was in Tauranga [ now in the UK again] who was bitten by a spider whilst under the house and ended up in hospital for a couple of weeks. Those hatches are a bit of a joke eh?
Phil sat the exam and got 59%. We have sent in the paper for reconsideration. Yet more money forked out. Going to evening college is a great way to get your hands on the necessary info. re the exam.Unfortunately, up here, the nearest place for this is Wellington. Phil did go away on a refresher two day course I found, in Auckland.
We do have several exam questions and answers, which I would copy and send to anyone interested. Likewise the refresher course info.
Re attitudes... well , lets just say , not what one , as adults, would have expected. Will PM you on this as suggested.
Anyone else in trades out there at all????????