Migrant Workers
Shane Jones: Govt ‘caught between two poles’
Forestry and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says while New Zealand should bring in more Pacific workers, we also need to ensure the potential workforce of young kiwis are prepared… Video, Audio
Forestry contractor calls for minister’s resignation over visa delays
A forestry contractor is calling for the immigration minister's resignation saying delays in processing migrant worker visas is costing the industry and his disadvantaged region hundreds of thousands… Video, Audio
Hawke’s Bay winery ‘horrified’ workers not getting paid
Twelve workers from Papua New Guinea, who were connected with Destiny Church, ended up working for free on Te Mata Estate after companies run by church members pocketed the cash. But Destiny Church… Audio
Migrants not the answer to aged care workers shortage - nurses union
Hiring migrant workers is not the answer to a chronic shortage of rest home workers, the nurses union says.
Migrant workers paying Chorus sub-contractors for visas - union
An investigation by the Labour Inspectorate found 73 subcontractors working on Chorus's ultra-fast broadband network in Auckland failed to keep employment records, pay the minimum wage and provide… Audio
Sistema workers accuse company of exploitation: 'We are not treated equally'
Workers at one of New Zealand's leading manufacturing companies Sistema have spoken out about their desperate need for better working conditions and have accused the company of exploiting migrant… Audio
'They have preyed on these vulnerable migrant workers'
Working 60 hour weeks for $17 an hour, employees at plastics manufacturer Sistema say the company is exploiting vulnerable migrant workers.
Migrant workers are ripe for exploitation - report
A new report has found migrant workers coming to New Zealand are ripe for exploitation. The report by E Tu looked at the experiences of 45 Filipino migrant workers in the construction sector in… Audio
NZ grower says RSE workers invaluable to the industry
A New Zealand fruit grower says his industry can no longer survive without Pacific workers. Audio
Eyebrows raised over Filipino labour-hire contracts
Auckland construction worker told he'd have to pay $5k or be deported in order to get out of his contract. Audio
Insight: NZ's tourism workforce - imported or homegrown?
While tourism is booming, research into employment paints a less than rosy picture, Belinda McCammon investigates government plans to tighten-up migrant worker visas will have on businesses, and how… Audio
Businesses blacklisted under new Labour Inspectorate powers
Seventy business have been banned from hiring migrant workers for breaking labour laws. Motel owners, restaurants and a major freight company feature on the blacklist of companies which have been… Audio
Exploited Indian students turn to suicide, self-harm
A group representing migrant workers says some Indian students are turning to self-harm or suicide, because they are under pressure to get residency and being exploited by unscrupulous employers. Audio
Indian students paying up to $40,000 for jobs
Indian students are being exploited into paying up to $40,000 for jobs they believe will help them gain residency, members of the Indian community have told RNZ.
Indian businesses illegally 'sell' jobs to foreign students
Some Indian business owners are illegally charging Indian foreign students 20-thousand-dollars or more for jobs they can use to gain residence in this country. Audio
Krishna Botica: hospitality and its challenges
Krishna Botica is described as a "hospitality legend" but it wasn't ever a career offered to her as a young woman. Now after more than 30 years in the hospitality business - 21 of those running… Audio
Govt does u-turn on immigration changes
Industries reliant on migrant workers are please the Government is backing off changes to skilled migrant visas, and say they'd like to see a system that's more responsive to regional demands. Audio
Migrant workers rep says he's fed up with exploitation here
An investigation by the Labour Inspectorate found more than half of the Bay of Plenty kiwifruit companies they looked into were failing to provide the minimum wage, correct holiday pay or even give… Audio
Farmers struggling as dairy workers move to Australia
Foreign dairy workers have been leaving New Zealand for Australia and Canada, and the dairy industry says attemped fixes are too late. Audio
World's top trade unionist calls on NZ to protect migrant workers
The world's top Trade Unionist, Sharan Burrow, is calling on New Zealand to protect migrant workers as if they were our own. Video, Audio