Chinese workers stuck without valid visas

AUCKLAND: A group of out ofwork Chinese construction workers say even though they’ve been offered jobs, they are stuck in limbo until they get valid visas.

The visas they received meant they could only work for labour hire company National Personnel Ltd.

However, the promised steady work did not happen and this week they were trespassed from their temporary accommodation in South Auckland.

Various community groups have been looking after the men since they were kicked out but the workers now have to move again.

Worker Chen Genxiang said they were desperate to find a place to live.

‘‘The Chinese community group offered us accommodation for three days. Now they have their own students moving in, so the place is not available anymore.

‘‘We need to find a new place to stay as soon as possible,’’ Mr Chen said.

The workers said a few businesses visited them at the Unite union office this week to offer them jobs and about seven of the workers were given offers from potential employers.

But one of the workers, Li Yanglin, said he was worried because he needed a new visa to work for a different employer.

‘‘We are happy to have a job offer now, but we’re not sure whether Immigration New Zealand can help us to get a new visa, an open work visa.’’

Mike Treen from the Unite union said he gave Immigration NZ a list of 57 workers who needed help with their visas but he did not know when the visa problem could be sorted out.

‘‘If they have to get variations done for a new employer, that will be sort of an individual approach that each of them will have to go through. We’ve had offers of legal help on that, so hopefully that won’t be too much of a barrier.’’

National Personnel Ltd said it offered alternative accommodation to the employees.

Immigration Minister Iain LeesGalloway said Immigration NZ was working with the men and Unite union to see how it could help.

‘‘They just want to be able to work, earn some money and take care of themselves whilst they’re in New Zealand.’’

Mr LeesGalloway said the workers’ welfare was a priority.

Police said noone had been arrested over the trespass but they were still investigating whether any offences were committed. — RNZ

❛ They just want to be able to work, earn some money and take care of themselves whilst they’re in New Zealand