CAB calls for stronger migrant worker safeguards

There’s been a bit of debate recently around NZs immigration policies, with a variety of arguments like: we need immigrants to fill jobs, or there’s no jobs because migrants take them all; our immigration system is too open, or it’s too restrictive; some say we must embrace different cultural ways of life, while others think we should stick to nations that align well with ‘Kiwi values’.

New Zealand’s human history is very short. Historians generally agree Polynesians arrived about 750 years ago, but it was another 400 years before Abel Tasman mapped our islands, and a further 127 years before James Cook’s visit encouraged settlement.  Some English, French and Germans arrived in 1840s, with Chinese working in the goldfields by 1860s.

Government assisted immigration began in the 1870s, based on the belief that NZ needed both capital and people for economic growth. People arrived from Scandinavia, Dalmatia, The Netherlands, Scotland and various Pacific Islands.

Since the 1960s, we’ve resettled hundreds of refugees annually.  After an immigration policy change about 40 years ago, we’ve admitted people based on their qualifications, not birth country, welcoming numerous Asians, Africans, and South Americans.

Many immigrants have learned to trust CAB’s services, just like Kiwis. One of Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB's) aims is to make NZ better for everyone by using what we learn from clients to make submissions to central government. Noticing an increase in immigration issues between 2024-2026, we decided to investigate. We examined over 1,000 queries about unfair practices, laws and policies, and wrote a report on migrant exploitation. (See: ‘Respecting & Protecting Migrant Workers Report’ banner here).

Client stories showed exploitation occurs across a range of industries, roles and regions. Underpayment or wages withheld, inconsistent hours, excessive demands, poor or unsafe accommodation, control of bank accounts, threats, bullying, and coercion linked to visa status were noted.

Immigrants often lack personal support networks, have language barriers and limited knowledge of New Zealand systems, which is compounded by being dependent on employers for income, housing, transport, and immigration procedures.

Clients told us there were long wait times, incomplete or conflicting information, or long, complex processes when they contacted Immigration NZ, increasing their vulnerability. They often need to rely on community organisations for help with food, housing and advocacy.

CAB welcomes the government’s recent acknowledgement of some of these issues, a commitment in the budget to strengthening protection of vulnerable workers, and the creation of a Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa, which allows workers to find alternative employment while their exploitation is being investigated. But we need more.

CAB’s research shows removing employee visa dependency on an employer, enforcement of NZ’s employment laws, improving ways to report issues safely, ensuring access to legal advice and having clear information available to immigrants and employers are critical to uphold the dignity, rights and safety of all who work in New Zealand / Aotearoa.

CAB volunteers help everyone – Kiwis and recent arrivals – to find information and support. Its free, confidential and collectively, our client stories help improve NZ for us all.

CAB Marlborough.  Phone: 03 578 4272 / 0800 367 222, www.cab.org.nz

Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 9.30am – 4.00pm. Thursday and Friday: 10am to 2pm at Marlborough Community Centre, 25 Alfred Street, Blenheim.