Anyone who commits illegal recruitment and mishandling will have to face grave violations in any country across the world. A company managed by a Filipina was fined by Auckland court after illegally exploiting migrant workers coming from the Philippines because of misleading circumstances/
The company Imai Japanese Food Service Ltd and Rosanna Imai, its owner, were fined a total of $15,000 plus emotional payment of $5,000 for her victims.
It is said that Ima’s company failed to pay the minimum wage of their employees and even provided a misleading information towards the immigration officer, thus, a total violation to the New Zealand Immigration Act.
It is said that two of the employees were forced to sign another contract when they reached New Zealand, apart from what they signed when they were in the Philippines. Their passports were also allegedly confiscated by Imai and no compensation was granted to them for two months even after working 70-hours per week. Imai promised her employees a salary of $17.50 per hour but they only received $3.57 or $250 per week. They were also required to tell their whereabouts especially during their day offs.
First Union in Auckland, Dennis Maga, said that the condition of these employees were rated as “slavery” especially because they are underpaid and restricted most of the time. The employer also have the full control because she was holding their passports.
Immigration New Zealand, Peter Davoy, said that they will certainly not tolerate this kind of activities and they will not think twice of prosecuting those people who were found guilty. Davoy added that anyone can contact the Immigration New Zealand or place an anonymous call to report similar incidences.
