In New Zealand, Auckland construction co. 6 Meter Homes allegedly used a Singaporean agency to charge migrant carpenter high recruitment fees, only to dismiss him after a week. The worker was recruited from Singapore, along with at least four others, and paid the equivalent of about NZD$11,700 over 2022 and 2023 to get a job and visa.

After an Employment Relations Authority investigation, the worker was awarded three months' wages, totalling NZ$13,035 after deductions for casual earnings, and NZ$17,000 compensation for humiliation, loss of dignity, and injury to feelings. The ERA imposed NZ$10,000 penalties on the company and NZ$6,000 on the director personally. NZ$8,000 was paid to the worker.