"Migrant workers living in poverty, facing return home,"

...

In 2022, recruitment agency Remarkable People offered around 45 Fijians and Cook Islanders labouring jobs in Nelson and Tasman. Stuff understands the group were working in the Cook Islands, and some had dependants in tow...

However, Nelson MP Rachel Boyack said when they arrived in Nelson, the group were sent casual contracts...

Working only a few hours a week, tied to Remarkable People by their visas, the new migrants found themselves in dire straits, Boyack said.

Some came to the MP for help, and she connected them with food parcels and advocated for visa assistance, she said...

A company spokesperson, who would not provide a name, said Remarkable was unaware of “these complainants”.

“Whilst we empathise with these workers’ situations, they could have contacted us directly if there were issues with the Nelson office or their employment and we would have assisted them a year ago..."

A week after this statement, the spokesperson added: “We are in communication with a couple of these visa candidates who have come forward after almost a year of not being in touch and I am working to resolve their issues individually.”

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment had investigated the company after a complaint last year, they confirmed. They had been cleared...

[Boyack] found Remarkable’s lack of oversight into its Nelson office’s practices concerning.

“It shows they don’t have appropriate checks and balances in place”...

As well as the contract switch, [Public Service Association worker Kate] Davis pointed out other issues with the casual agreement the employees were sent.

Medical certificates were required after a sick day, there were unlawful contracts around dismissal, and a lack of process around procedures like performance, she said.

There was also a lack of clarity around deductions, Davis said...