A Paeroa-based business, owned by Chetna Dave & Hitesh Dave, has been ordered to pay more than $159,000 after pleading guilty to exploiting migrant workers and supplying false information to Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
Dev Trading Limited (DTL), trading as Super Clearance, was also directed to pay $18,684.72 in reparations and $5000 in emotional harm payments to each worker.
“This is a good outcome for INZ and, most importantly, for the victims,” says Jason Perry, national manager investigations. “They have received significant reparation and emotional harm payments, and this case reinforces that exploitation will not be tolerated in New Zealand.”
Labour inspectorate calculations revealed, more than NZD $158,000 of unpaid wages and entitlements, with NZD $140,000 paid to the victims before sentencing.
Investigators found the workers were required to work extremely long hours — in some cases up to 14 hours a day, seven days a week, including public holidays — without receiving their lawful entitlements. One worker faced deductions disguised as loan repayments totalling more than $6000.
DTL also submitted false records to INZ, including fabricated rosters and payslips, and completed employment modules on behalf of the workers, preventing them from learning about New Zealand employment law and their rights.
After an extensive investigation, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) immigration investigators confirmed the deception and brought the case to court.
“The callous exploitation of vulnerable migrants and the deliberate provision of false information to INZ is not just unethical, it’s criminal. We will continue to work with our partner agencies to hold those responsible to account,” Jason says.
Employers who breach immigration and employment laws were said to undermine the integrity of New Zealand’s immigration system and cause harm to vulnerable workers.
“Maintaining the integrity of our immigration system is critical to protecting both migrants and the wider public,” Jason says.
Dev Trading Limited was sold prior to sentencing and is now under new management.
Anyone with information about immigration fraud or migrant exploitation is urged to contact MBIE on 0800 200 088 or report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.