The list is updated every six months and eases the way for those who wish to bring skilled trades people in from overseas, says CEO Joan Grace who has called on companies to submit their own entries to her.
The positions currently included are screen printer, web offset printer, sheetfed offset printer, flexographic printer, folder operator, print finisher, perfect binding operator, stitcher operator, diecutter operator, diemaker and folder gluer operator.
Meanwhile the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union says it welcomes the Government's response to the manufacturing industry initiative, Manufacturing +, which has been to set up a Manufacturing Advisory Group, which will be co-chaired by EPMU national secretary Andrew Little and Business NZ chief cxecutive Phil O'Reilly.
Little says New Zealand's manufacturing sector (including the printing industry) is facing serious issues.
"There are nearly a quarter of a million jobs in the manufacturing sector in New Zealand. That's nearly a quarter of a million reasons to get manufacturing right.
"New Zealand's manufacturing sector faces global competition, a high dollar and capacity constraints, but with this initiative and the measures already announced in the Budget we're seeing a real willingness from this Government to secure the future of manufacturing in this country.
"The Government's response recognises that securing a future for manufacturing is going to take a whole-industry approach and it's good to see unions are being recognised as key stakeholders and participants right from the start."
