Immigrant Workers: 22 December 2023
Okay I am cross — very cross as I don’t think NZ has acted responsibly towards the ELE workers that were brought in to fill a labour shortage (that was obviously backward looking).
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/ele-collapse-massive-foodbank-drive-for-hundreds-of-laid-off-workers/3U72OVWHRBHAVKMIYH244MPZI4/?fbclid=IwAR3jpm_vXDd–_mR7tgXrMb2uHM_XQj_YtwUepS6q-Pezovq5zYwkNctOYg
The shortage was when the borders were closed.
The borders opened and labour came in at full throttle as the need was reducing.
Companies ‘importing’ workers paid the required rates and added margin — other than ‘responsibility’, I am not sure what the value add was and $35 – $40 per hour for for general labour (construction) isn’t low.
How can the company just leave these people high-and-dry?
If I were the Philippine government (or any government that ‘trades’ in the general labour of people, I would insist on a government/bond/trust/retention being held for each worker employed. Two weeks pay, two weeks redundancy, and the cost of a one-way flight for that worker.
This is playing with people’s lives.
Rant over.
