PRESS RELEASE
30 May 2009

Redundant Migrants Appeal: Extend Permit For 3 Months

Redundant migrants and migrants rights advocates launched today a petition (full text attached) to request the Ministry of Immigration to extend redundant migrants’ work permits for an additional three months.

“Extending the work permit of migrant workers who were made redundant for at least 3 months will give fair chance for them to look for another job and apply for a new work permit. Migrant workers served the needs of New Zealand economy as the country opened its doors for foreign workers to meet the job shortage. Local workers must be protected, but we also seek protection for workers recruited overseas now made redundant,” Mr. Dennis Maga, national coordinator of the Filipino migrants group Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand stated.

“Migrant workers made redundant were given short notice from 1 week to 1 month to look for a job. Recognizing that migrant workers serve New Zealand’s needs in the past, present and future, we urgently ask the Immigration Department to allow migrant workers made redundant to find employment for another three months,” Mr. Maga noted.

Migrante Aotearoa is set to launch the petition in various communities of Filipinos and other affected migrants of various nationalities. The petition will also be presented by Mr. Maga at the public meeting organised by the Migrants Action Trust today at Windy Ridge school in Glenfield from 10am to 12pm.

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