On International Migrants Day, migrant advocacy groups and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand are drawing urgent attention to the plight of vulnerable migrant workers, highlighting systemic flaws that perpetuate exploitation and instability.

Mandeep Bela, President of the Union Network of Migrants (UNEMIG) said that: "Today is about recognising the immense contributions of migrants, but also confronting the harsh realities many face. Our immigration system has created a profound power imbalance, trapping workers in silence and fear. Every person in New Zealand, regardless of their visa status, deserves the right to safe work, decent pay, dignity and the freedom to speak up without the threat of deportation hanging over them."

To demand action, UNEMIG, alongside other migrant organisations, is holding a protest today outside the office of the Minister of Immigration, Erica Stanford. "This is not just a migrant issue," Bela said. "Exploitative conditions undercut wages and standards for all workers. We are here to demand a system that works for everyone - one that values people over profit and dignity over disposability."

The protest focuses on two critical policy failures: the tied visa system, which binds a migrant's legal status to a single employer, and the mandatory 12-month "stand-down" period for lower-paid AEWV holders, which forces them to leave New Zealand after their visa ends.

Commenting on the tied visa, Bela said: "When your ability to stay in the country is controlled by your employer, raising concerns about safety or wage theft becomes a risky choice. This system is designed to silence people, leaving them isolated and at great risk of abuse."

The 12-month stand-down period compounds this injustice, tearing apart families and communities.

Voices from the community:

• On Tied Visas: "My boss knew I couldn’t leave. He charged me a premium for the job offer and paid me half of what is in my employment agreement. I felt completely powerless. I had to choose between speaking up and losing my visa or staying silent and watching my savings disappear while living in financial and emotional hardship. I felt invisible, like my dreams and my dignity didn’t matter." - Mary (name changed for protection), former hospitality worker.
• On the Stand-Down Period: "We arrived with nothing but hope. For three years, we worked dawn till dusk, saved every dollar, and our daughter, who was born here, is now 2 years old. My employer wants to keep me on, but AEWV conditions state that I must leave the country for a year after my visa ends. We live in constant anxiety about being torn away from the life we’ve built. Our hearts are breaking." - Maria and Mikee (names changed), migrant workers.

Key Asks for the New Zealand Government:

This International Migrants Day, we call on the Government to act with urgency and humanity by:

• Ending Tied Visas: Decouple work visas from single employers. Migrant workers must have the right to change jobs freely to escape exploitation, creating a fairer labour market for all.
• Stopping the 12-Month Stand-Down Period: Scrap this cruel and counterproductive rule. It needlessly splits families, harms wellbeing, and strips industries of experienced workers.

"International Migrants Day must move us from recognition to action," Bela said. "We have an opportunity to build an immigration system rooted in fairness and respect. By ending these punitive policies, we can ensure New Zealand truly values the people who contribute their labour, their talents, and their lives to our country."

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