Immigration Clamp Down On Rogue Employers

A recent announcement from government Minister Michael Woodhouse has revealed new penalties for employers found guilty of breaching employment standards which would result in a set stand-down period preventing them from recruiting migrant labour for six months, one year, 18 months or two years, depending on the severity of the breach.

“Migrant workers make a valuable contribution to our workforce and have the same rights as any other worker,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“It is simply unacceptable that those employers who exploit migrant workers are still able to recruit from the international labour market and disadvantage those employers who do the right thing.

“That’s why the Government is introducing stand-down periods during which time employers who flout the law will be banned from recruiting further migrant workers."

“Employers who have incurred an employment standards-related penalty will be banned from recruiting migrant labour for defined stand-down periods ranging from six months to two years, depending on the severity of the case.”

“Access to the international labour market is a privilege, not a right and if employers abuse that privilege by exploiting migrants or failing to comply with employment law, there will be consequences,” Mr Woodhouse says.

For all businesses this is a sharp reminder that they need to ensure that they comply with employment laws for their migrant workers otherwise they will face the consequences.

The new measures will come into effect on the 1st April 2017. For full details: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/clampdown-on-non-compliant-employers ​