Migrant Exploitation in New Zealand
“Tauranga kiwifruit orchard labour contractor pleads guilty to charges.”
“Southland farm owner to pay $215k for exploiting migrant workers.”
Headlines like these have been populating our news cycles recently. More accounts are coming to light of migrant workers being exploited or trafficked in Aotearoa New Zealand. Workers are not being paid or are having substantial amounts deducted from their wages unfairly, being forced to live in crowded and unhealthy accommodation, or being verbally and physically abused by their employers. In some instances, migrants are being blatantly lied to, and the jobs they come to the country for do not exist at all.
Migrant employment in Aotearoa New Zealand
Two of Aotearoa New Zealand’s main pathways for migrant employment were recently reviewed, and both were found to be severely lacking in ensuring the protection of workers. The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme was reviewed by the Human Rights Commission in 2022, and issues were identified such as poor living conditions for the workers, disregard for the mental, physical, and cultural well-being of the workers, and the unfair docking of wages.
In 2023 the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) was reviewed, which was introduced in 2022 to help New Zealand recover from the effects of COVID-19 by bringing more skilled workers into the country. The review found that in the haste to allow migrant workers into the country, the visa was poorly planned and left multiple loopholes which allowed for the mistreatment of the migrants employed through the visa.
Prioritising the dignity of workers
What we are seeing is a prioritisation of financial gain for Aotearoa New Zealand over the well-being of people and respect for our neighbours in the Pacific. The right to work is an essential part of society. It enables people to contribute to their local economies and to have independence through financial security. However, the right to be fairly paid for work and be treated with dignity is also important. The exploitation of people for profit is an abuse of human rights and a gross injustice. Rather than working for the common good, people who exploit others do so for selfish gain.
What can we do?
One change that must be made is the removal of processes that tie employment visas to a single employer. When people apply for jobs under the AEWV or the RSE scheme, their visa is connected only to their employer. This practice has resulted in workers being manipulated and often threatened with deportation by their employers. By changing this process, there would be less opportunity for the mistreatment of workers by employers.
Additionally, there is no dedicated national referral mechanism for people to report instances of exploitation or trafficking in Aotearoa New Zealand. There are multiple contact numbers offered by governmental and non-governmental organisations, all of which provide victims of exploitation with different levels of support and advice. It is a confusing system that is difficult to navigate. To streamline this process and prioritise people’s safety, we are calling on the New Zealand Government to allocate resources for the establishment and operation of a dedicated helpline for victims of trafficking and exploitation.
We want Aotearoa New Zealand to be a safe place for people to move to for work. Everybody should be paid fairly for the work that they do, all should be treated with dignity and respect. We can each play our part in making Aotearoa New Zealand a welcoming, hospitable country. While calling for our government to protect the dignity and safety of migrant workers, we can open our doors to migrants who are seeking support and community.