Legal Associates Barristers & Solicitors Founder Principal Raj Pardeep Singh has urged migrant workers coming to New Zealand on Accredited Employer Work Visas to take key precautions to avoid exploitation.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender after taking up pro bono the case of a Pakistani woman who claimed she paid $44,000 to come to New Zealand for a beautician job but claimed she was paid unfairly, Raj said, “This case is very unfortunate. People are coming overseas with the promise of being paid fairly, and not getting their hard-earned money is deeply distressing.”
The woman said she was promised $29.70 an hour for work at an Auckland salon but was allegedly told to repay $4 an hour in cash. The salon later shut down, the owners stopped responding, and the company went into liquidation. She has since been granted a Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa while authorities investigate.
Jyotsna from the Legal Associates team, who first met the woman, said she was “gutted” to hear her story.
“I knew straight away that she needed help, and Raj was quick to step in and support her," she said.
She added that requests for large sums of money to secure a job or visa should raise immediate red flags.
“We see far too many heartbreaking cases where people have sold their land, taken out loans, or given up everything just to pay someone promising them a job in New Zealand — only to end up exploited or with nothing.”
Raj said that workers arriving on Accredited Employer Work Visas should verify an employer’s background before making commitments.
“Verify whether the company you’re joining is registered in New Zealand, use the power of social media, and ask questions to those already living in the country about your employer before making a final move,” he said.
He added that migrants should always check with Immigration New Zealand, and use official channels such as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) for research.
“These small but crucial steps can save migrant workers from significant financial and emotional distress.”
In a statement, Legal Associates said it is vital for migrants to use a licensed immigration adviser or lawyer and verify that both the job offer and employer are genuine.
“No one can ‘guarantee’ you a visa, no matter what they claim,” they said.
According to Stuff, the Pakistani woman had previously worked in Dubai and arrived in May 2024 on an Accredited Employer Work Visa linked to Two Brothers Private Ltd. She alleged she was made to repay part of her wages and was not compensated for extra hours.
MBIE confirmed it has issued her a Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa, stating it was “credible that exploitation may have occurred.” The company has since been liquidated, owing $121,000 to Inland Revenue.
The owner denied taking visa payments or exploiting the worker, saying any payments to his wife were repayments of a loan.
MBIE’s Labour Inspectorate said it would review whether the company had complied with minimum employment standards.
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