Government must protect migrant workers - and Kiwi jobs and wages

The Government must act to ensure that the 15,000 migrant workers expected to be needed for the Christchurch rebuild are treated fairly and within the law, or it will risk having New Zealand jobs and wages undermined, says Darien Fenton.

“While most employers do right by migrant workers, there has been a rash of breaches of minimum wage and employment laws among migrants working in New Zealand recently.

“The Government has to lift its game.  There will need to be extra inspections and enforcement of employment laws in Christchurch for the rebuild.

“In answer to written questions from Labour, the Minister of Labour has confirmed that the Ministry cannot provide data on the number of times that the minimum wage and employment laws have been breached involving workers on work visas in the last three years.

“That means the Government has no idea of the scale of the problem that already exists, and leaves it badly exposed when it comes to preparing for a huge influx of migrant workers in Christchurch.

“No-one is underestimating the size and scale of the job ahead of us in Christchurch and there is no doubt we will need some workers from overseas to help.

“But the Minister of Labour must assure New Zealand workers, and those we seek to bring here, that the Christchurch rebuild will not become another scandal where migrant workers are exploited and New Zealand jobs and wages undermined,” says Darien Fenton.