MBIE to examine migrant worker exploitation in NZ

WELLINGTON: Officials from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) have been tasked with researching exploitation of temporary migrant workers in a bid to stamp it out.

Immigration and Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain LeesGalloway said many migrant workers, especially those on temporary and student visas, were particularly vulnerable to exploitation.

‘‘Migrant exploitation takes many forms, including workers not getting paid properly, working excessive hours or in unsafe conditions. Crucially, far too many migrant workers do not feel empowered to speak up or seek help when they are being subjected to unfair conditions,’’ Lees Galloway said.

Migrant exploitation spanned ‘‘ignorant noncompliance’’ with minimum employment legislation, through to forced labour and peopletrafficking.

MBIE officials and University of Auckland researchers would speak to migrant and international student groups, unions and businesses to better understand worker exploitation. The research would identify gaps and opportunities to reduce exploitation and make recommendations on potential regulatory, policy or operational changes, including labour market protections, to reduce exploitation.

LeesGalloway said he expected to make decisions next year but in the meantime, other initiatives under way included employing more labour inspectors and changing poststudy work rights to reduce international student exploitation.

Last month, an MBIE investigation targeting Chorus contractors found nearly all were breaching employment standards. Violations include ‘‘volunteer’’ work or extended training periods without pay.

Workers in industries including hospitality, retail and the sex industry have been found to have been exploited. — NZME