The Christian Heritage Party is pleased to announce that one of the two workers involved in the employment scam story released by CHP on Monday has received a satisfactory settlement offer from his employer, involving a substantial cash settlement and a return air-ticket.

“Credit must go in part to the work of Christchurch Labour Department Inspector Peter Winchester, and publicity from the media,” said John Bryant, CHP’s Executive Director and candidate for Christchurch Central, who brought this issue to light.

“There still remains one other workers claim to be resolved, but I am confident that with the employers further co-operation this case can also be resolved satisfactorily.

“WINZ Policy not to provide a welfare safety net to all New Zealand taxpayers still remains a policy issue to be resolved. The Government’s callous disregard for the rights of temporary migrant workers remains. They and their families remain at risk from Government anti-family policies,” he added.

“The New Zealand Immigration Service must also review its visa issuing policy to ensure that all migrant workers are made aware of minimum standards and conditions for employment in New Zealand, with a list being provided of appropriate points of contact for lodging complaints, and the availability of translation services if necessary,” Mr Bryant concluded.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>