Migrant workers exploited by other migrants in New Zealand
Sunday, 23 June 2019
An organisation representing exploited migrant workers is fielding one or two calls every day from people getting ripped off - and those being accused were nearly always migrants themselves.
Migrant Workers Association spokeswoman Anu Kaloti said many of those contacting her organisation were working in liquor stores.
'Unfortunately in the vast majority of cases the employers tend to be migrants themselves, exploiting employees who are newer migrants,' she said.
'From a philosophical point of view it should be the reverse. Migrants who have been through the same themselves should show compassion and empathy to the newer migrants, but funnily enough it's the opposite,' she said.
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'I haven't been able to work out why it is the way that it is. Perhaps its because they felt they had to go through all this pain and grief so why should a newer migrant have it easy. It's very strange,' said Kaloti, who had been with the association since 2012.
'In the last two to three years we have had a lot of cases come our way. This year we have been contacted by one or two people every day, seven days a week,' Kaloti said.
Migrant exploitation has become a significant issue in New Zealand. Around 53 per cent of all cases investigated by the Labour Inspectorate involved migrant labour.
Kaloti's comments come after a migrant revealed he worked 65 hours a week at a liquor store in the Manawatu earning, on average, $6.92 an hour.
Since 2012, the Labour Inspectorate has completed 66 investigations into liquor retail businesses.
Meanwhile, Auckland Council has served a dangerous building notice on a former bingo hall housing dozens of migrant workers in 22 indoor cabins after it was found to pose serious fire risks.
Kaloti has been interviewed as part of an ongoing Government review into migrant worker exploitation, and it seemed one of the major contributors to exploitation is when a visa is tied to an employer.
'They did away with the employer-assisted visa, but the next level up, the essential skills visa still requires sponsorship by an employer,' she said.
'Until and unless they open the visas, by not tying them to employers, we will continue to see this and the exploitation won't stop,' Kaloti said.
Some of the employers in question had arrived in New Zealand with money, but a large proportion had worked their way up.
'The majority of cases tended to be Indian employees and employers, but we've had Filipino workers and bosses, we've had people from China, and from Japan,' she said.
'But it's not a caste thing. It's a class thing. You know 'I'm the employer, a class or two above you, and I have the money',' she said.
Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway, who announced the review in November, said it was due to be completed by the end of this year, and changes resulting from the review were likely to be implemented from next year.
He said the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment had developed a policy where in cases of serious workplace exploitation, migrants who come forward may be allowed to remain in New Zealand while they apply for a new visa, and so are not bound to the employer involved in exploitation.
'The policy means that in cases of serious workplace exploitation, migrants who come forward may be allowed to remain in New Zealand while they apply for a new visa, and so are not bound to the employer involved in exploitation,' he said.
'While the review work is underway, the Government agencies continue to take enforcement action to address the exploitation of migrant workers,' Lees-Galloway said.