[New Zealand] Employers found guilty of exploiting migrant workers

In New Zealand, three employers have been found guilty of exploiting migrant workers by bringing them to New Zealand illegally and paying them well below the minimum wage, 1NEWS reports.

On February 17 at the Hamilton District Court, Antony Swarbrick, Christina Kewa-Swarbrick and Martha Fretton were found guilty of nine charges relating to migrant exploitation.

The three employers reportedly arranged for groups of seasonal workers from Papua New Guinea to work in Aotearoa illegally, between 2013 and 2016.

The workers thought they would be in full-time employment, working under the RSE scheme. They also believed they would be paid $15 an hour, well below the minimum wage.

The employers have reportedly been found guilty of aiding and abetting, completion of a visa application known to be false or misleading and provision of false or misleading information to an immigration officer under the Immigration Act.

Richard Owen - Immigration New Zealand’s general manager of verification and compliance - said, "No form of exploitation is acceptable in New Zealand, and INZ will hold offenders to account. This conviction should act as a strong warning to anyone considering exploiting temporary or unlawful migrants."

"Employers who demonstrate this kind of exploitative behaviour are jeopardising New Zealand's reputation as a fair place to live, work and do business."

The three employers will be sentenced at the Te Awamutu District Court on March 30.

Source: 1NEWS

(Quote via original reporting)

In New Zealand, three employers have been found guilty of exploiting migrant workers by bringing them to New Zealand illegally and paying them well below the minimum wage, 1NEWS reports.

On February 17 at the Hamilton District Court, Antony Swarbrick, Christina Kewa-Swarbrick and Martha Fretton were found guilty of nine charges relating to migrant exploitation.

The three employers reportedly arranged for groups of seasonal workers from Papua New Guinea to work in Aotearoa illegally, between 2013 and 2016.

The workers thought they would be in full-time employment, working under the RSE scheme. They also believed they would be paid $15 an hour, well below the minimum wage.

The employers have reportedly been found guilty of aiding and abetting, completion of a visa application known to be false or misleading and provision of false or misleading information to an immigration officer under the Immigration Act.

Richard Owen - Immigration New Zealand’s general manager of verification and compliance - said, "No form of exploitation is acceptable in New Zealand, and INZ will hold offenders to account. This conviction should act as a strong warning to anyone considering exploiting temporary or unlawful migrants."

"Employers who demonstrate this kind of exploitative behaviour are jeopardising New Zealand's reputation as a fair place to live, work and do business."

The three employers will be sentenced at the Te Awamutu District Court on March 30.

Source: 1NEWS

(Quote via original reporting)