Vietnamese workers: what a plan to move 130 jobs to Australia says about job safety

Employer update · 2026-09-02 · 3 min read

Sometimes a job does not disappear. It moves to another country. This is what a large supermarket operator in New Zealand has proposed. Let us look at the facts in simple words, and then at what they mean for your plans.

What is the plan?

The company wants to close its Customer Care Centre. Roughly 130 jobs would move across the Tasman to Australia. (The Tasman is the sea between New Zealand and Australia.) Staff were told on September 1. They have until September 15 to give their views. The plan is not final.

Why is it in the news?

The union for the staff says the move could add around NZ$4.1 million in earnings by FY2029. The company made NZ$163 million in earnings before interest and tax in the year to June 2026. That is up 8.8% on the year before. It also spent more than NZ$400 million on rebranding its stores. The union says the saving looks small next to these figures.

Who is affected?

The union says a significant share of the team are sole parents who work from home. These jobs fit family life. If they end, it is hard to find the same kind of work nearby. Unemployment in New Zealand is 5.6%, so finding a new job may not be quick.

The union also worries about service. Customer support from Australia may lack local New Zealand knowledge.

What can Vietnamese workers learn?

This story is a reminder to build skills that are hard to move or replace. Here are some ideas:

Think about jobs that need a person on site, such as trades and care work.
Vietnamese vocational certificates and degrees are usually checked again abroad. Australia uses a skills assessment. New Zealand uses qualification recognition, and some trades also need occupational registration.
Prepare certified English translations of your Vietnamese documents when the visa rules ask for them.
If a police certificate is requested, Vietnamese citizens usually need the Judicial Record Certificate No. 2 (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp số 2).
Take IELTS or PTE only if the visa or employer needs it.

A word about safety

When you look for work abroad, deal only with licensed organisations and real employers. Never pay an unlicensed broker. Be careful with anyone who asks for money upfront to secure a job or a visa. A real employer and a real visa process will not need that.

You can read official information about working in New Zealand on the New Zealand Immigration website.

Jobs and workers now move in both directions across the Tasman. Stay calm, keep learning, and keep your papers ready. A good plan makes you stronger whatever happens to one employer.

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