New Zealand: Chinese migrant builders left jobless after paying huge agents’ fees in latest recruitment scams
Resumen
Fecha comunicada: 6 Abr 2023
Ubicación: Nueva Zelanda
Otro
Not Reported ( Construcción ) - EmployerAfectado
Total de personas afectadas: Número desconocido
Trabajadores migrantes e inmigrantes: ( 1 - China , Construcción , Men , Documented migrants )Temas
Tasas de contratación , Dismissal , Derecho a la alimentación , Intimidación y Amenazas , Negación de la libertad de expresión , Access to Non-Judicial Remedy , Displacement , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Wage Theft , Wage TheftRespuesta
Response sought: No
Medidas adoptadas: None reported.
Tipo de fuente: News outlet
Resumen
Fecha comunicada: 6 Abr 2023
Ubicación: Nueva Zelanda
Otro
Not Reported ( Construcción ) - EmployerAfectado
Total de personas afectadas: Número desconocido
Trabajadores migrantes e inmigrantes: ( 1 - China , Construcción , Men , Documented migrants )Temas
Dismissal , Denial of leave , Displacement , Access to Non-Judicial Remedy , Occupational Health & Safety , Lesiones/Heridas , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Tasas de contrataciónRespuesta
Response sought: No
Medidas adoptadas: None reported.
Tipo de fuente: News outlet
"Eating instant noodles every day: the penniless Chinese builders left destitute by uncaring employers" 6 April 2023
Migrant advocates say it’s the latest audacious scam: Chinese builders are paying huge premiums to offshore agents for jobs in New Zealand, but finding no work when they arrive. National Correspondent Steve Kilgallon reports.
Qiang* pauses, opens his pack, and pulls out a packet of dried instant noodles. Through his tears, he explains that all he can afford to eat is a packet at lunch, and the same for dinner.
Qiang paid a lot of money to be in New Zealand - about $30,000 - but within three days of his arrival, had been sacked by the construction company which sponsored his visa.
He suspects the company received a sizeable kickback from the Chinese recruitment agent who brought him to New Zealand. “Whenever I think of my situation, I cannot stop the tears,” he says.
He says the agent has visited his wife at home to persuade him to withdraw a grievance he has raised with his New Zealand employer.
Qiang is not alone. Tao* was also sacked within two weeks of arriving in New Zealand by a different construction company after he asked to take two days’ unpaid sick leave after hurting his back on site.
Both men were kicked out of company-organised house shares despite having valid tenancy agreements. [...]