ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Sixteen of 23 companies failed an investigation of employment standards that was conducted by the government’s Labour Inspectorate in Christchurch.
The results show that the many reports about migrant workers and how badly they have been treated during the Christchurch Rebuild are true.
Many workers have come into Christchurch from overseas, a lot working in construction.
Reports have suggested that some have been short changed on wages, charged very high rents for shared living spaces and generally not been given decent working conditions that New Zealand takes prides in.
Some have lost their jobs, and then faced demands from overseas agents who charged high fees to get them the job.
New Zealand has always be a fair and equal country. The way these workers have been treated is appalling. The National government must be held to account. It must start checking on the working and living conditions of migrant workers. It must ask questions when there are concerns. This is not the Kiwi way.
The National government has allowed a huge number of migrant workers in, despite our high unemployment rate. Is it focused on deliberately driving down wages and conditions. Let’s face it, Filipino migrant workers are not going to ask about tea breaks.
Migrant workers from overseas are vulnerable. They need jobs, they will work long hours and suffer poorer conditions because they want to earn money to send back to their families who are not cushioned by a welfare system.
We should not be part of a trade of workers who are moved around the world just to build fancy buildings for the better off.
The audit of companies is continuing. Let’s hope this is not just paperwork and that those found wanting comply with the regulations.
Sixteen of 23 companies failed an investigation of employment standards that was conducted by the government’s Labour Inspectorate in Christchurch.
The results show that the many reports about migrant workers and how badly they have been treated during the Christchurch Rebuild are true.
Many...
Sixteen of 23 companies failed an investigation of employment standards that was conducted by the government’s Labour Inspectorate in Christchurch.
The results show that the many reports about migrant workers and how badly they have been treated during the Christchurch Rebuild are true.
Many workers have come into Christchurch from overseas, a lot working in construction.
Reports have suggested that some have been short changed on wages, charged very high rents for shared living spaces and generally not been given decent working conditions that New Zealand takes prides in.
Some have lost their jobs, and then faced demands from overseas agents who charged high fees to get them the job.
New Zealand has always be a fair and equal country. The way these workers have been treated is appalling. The National government must be held to account. It must start checking on the working and living conditions of migrant workers. It must ask questions when there are concerns. This is not the Kiwi way.
The National government has allowed a huge number of migrant workers in, despite our high unemployment rate. Is it focused on deliberately driving down wages and conditions. Let’s face it, Filipino migrant workers are not going to ask about tea breaks.
Migrant workers from overseas are vulnerable. They need jobs, they will work long hours and suffer poorer conditions because they want to earn money to send back to their families who are not cushioned by a welfare system.
We should not be part of a trade of workers who are moved around the world just to build fancy buildings for the better off.
The audit of companies is continuing. Let’s hope this is not just paperwork and that those found wanting comply with the regulations.
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