Migrants who have recently moved to Wellington to work as desperately needed bus drivers are without bare essentials like beds, kitchen utensils and heaters.
Bus operators, notably NZ Bus, launched overseas recruitment campaigns after Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced bus and truck drivers could now access a time-limited, two-year residence pathway.
This was in response to a nationwide bus driver shortage. The capital has struggled to get on top of its shortage of about 125 drivers.
A Wellington woman has posted on a community Facebook page, saying she is helping 18 Filipino bus drivers who have been in the city for roughly three weeks.
“They are in need of things for their flats please, especially mattresses or beds, utensils for the kitchen, washing machines and fridges.”
The woman said the bus drivers were living in three different groups and she was helping them “so they can at least be comfortable, especially heading into winter.”
The regional council’s Transport Committee chairman Thomas Nash said the wellbeing of drivers was important and the council was making every effort to ensure they were looked after and had a good experience, but added “Obviously, it would be better if everyone had everything they needed all the time, but unfortunately, that’s not the reality.”
The Polar Bl@st 