Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader

Member of Parliament for Northland
25 NOVEMBER 2015

Abuse of Restaurant Workers Tip of Iceberg

Exploitation of migrant workers at a restaurant near Nelson is the tip of the iceberg, says New Zealand First.

“Record numbers of immigrants, many indebted and desperate to work, have become easy targets for unscrupulous employers, often from their own countries,” says New Zealand First Leader and Member of Parliament for Northland Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“It’s a disgrace. Corruption appears endemic in parts of the restaurant trade.

“In the past year several restaurants have been convicted for exploiting migrant workers and there is much anecdotal evidence of abuse.

“Convicted employers, if new immigrants, should be sent home.

“In the latest case the Employment Relations Authority found that staff were paid less than the minimum wage and worked excessive hours at a restaurant in Richmond.

“They were only rescued when a member of the public alerted authorities.

“The blame can be laid at the government’s doors. It is clear that there must be more oversight of employers, more regular inspections and raids, and stiffer penalties, and immigration at a level that can be controlled.

“In the Richmond case monetary awards have been ordered, but this does not mean that the workers will receive the money. Too often, by the time the abusers are caught, companies are in liquidation, or have been sold as this one has.

“Last year when a restaurant was found to be paying only $2.64 an hour the penalty for the managers was only home detention for less than a year. That is no deterrent at all to offenders who bring this country’s reputation into such ignominy.”

ENDS

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