Employer greed, not worker laziness, driving record immigration numbers - union

A union representing working people in the wood industry is disputing Prime Minister John Key’s assertion that immigration is needed to fill jobs New Zealanders are too lazy to perform.

“Employers who prefer migrant workers over local workers often do so out of greed,” said FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid.

“Everyone is entitled to work, but many employers know that competition between local workers and migrant workers helps keep wages low.”

“And sometimes it’s more brutal than that. In siviculture, an industry that relies on migrant workers from the Pacific, we know of government audits that found most employers in the industry were out right under-paying workers in one way or another.”

The audits were undertaken by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

“This kind of exploitation can happen because the system is rigged with many migrant workers coerced into silence for fear of losing their visas and their right to work and support their families.”

“John Key is wrong about working people. His low wage, low skill migration policy is excluding local workers and leading to the exploitation of migrant workers,” said Reid.

For further comment contact FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid: 021 535 933

ENDS

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