Migrant sex workers safe, report finds

AUCKLAND: Migrant sex workers who work illegally in New Zealand are in safe employment situations and working to fund study or travel, a new study has found.

A University of Otago research did not find the sex workers as being desperate, exploited or trafficked.

Only a small minority of nonEnglish speaking sex workers interviewed were in vulnerable situations and being exploited by brothel owners, which included nonpayment of money or having their passports withheld.

Detailed interviews were conducted with 11 female migrant sex workers and nine key stakeholders — including brothel operators, sexual health specialists and representatives of the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective — for the ‘‘Migrant Sex Workers in NZ’’ report.

The study was commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, which oversees Immigration New Zealand, as part of efforts to better understand issues in the sex industry here.

Under the Prostitution Reform Act, it is illegal for any migrant on temporary visas to engage in sex work, even though it is legal for New Zealand citizens and residents.

‘‘All of the migrant sex workers . . . even the most vulnerable, came to New Zealand and engaged in sex work of their own choice rather than being trafficked,’’ report coauthor Associate Prof Gillian Abel said.

A majority of those interviewed said they chose sex work in brothels over lowerpaying minimum wage work to fund their study or travel.

Their biggest stress was being reported to authorities and deportation.

In the past three years, deportation liability notices have been served to 38 migrant sex workers, and 27 have been deported. — NZME