Iain Lees-Galloway
MP for Palmerston North
Immigration Spokesperson

MEDIA STATEMENT

8 September 2016

Migrant exploitation must be stamped out

Migrant workers are being treated like slaves by rogue employers and the Government has failed to get on top of the issue, says Labour’s Immigration spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway.

“A report released by Caritas Aotearoa details ongoing exploitation of migrant workers such as employers failing to pay the minimum wage, paying less than was promised, failing to provide a written employment agreement and providing poor living conditions.

“This is further evidence the immigration system is being abused to provide cheap, vulnerable labour rather than to provide the skills New Zealand needs.

“It is no surprise that forestry, farming and fishing – the industries in which employers most often fail to provide a written employment agreement – are also the industries that complain that they can’t get New Zealanders to work for them and cry out for migrant workers.

“It’s time for National to admit that they have broken the immigration system. Vulnerable migrants are being exploited and wages are being suppressed. Michael Woodhouse needs take swift action to crack down on exploitative employers by properly resourcing labour inspectors and reviewing the immigration settings.

“Labour supports active management of immigration to make sure New Zealand gets the skills it needs and migrants are safe from exploitative employers,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.

ends

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