Immigration New Zealand is investigating more than 160 employers for exploiting migrant workers.
The investigation is ongoing, and five employers have already had their accreditation suspended and six have had it revoked.
One migrant worker, known as Singh, was assaulted and abandoned at the airport after he couldn’t pay his employer “extortion” money. He had paid around $20,000 for his initial visa, but received no wages despite working for three weeks. When he was asked for an extra $20,000, he was threatened with deportation.
Singh’s story is one of many, according to the President of The Supreme Sikh Society of NZ. He says that the problem has gotten worse since the start of the accredited employer program.
The accredited employer program is designed to make it easier for businesses to hire migrant workers. However, it has also been criticized for making it easier for employers to exploit migrant workers.
Immigration New Zealand says that it is committed to protecting migrant workers and that the investigation is a serious matter.