Combating Migrant Exploitation in New Zealand

Internationally an estimated 40.3 million people were victims of modern

slavery in 2016.Of those 40.3 million victims,

24.9 million people were in forced labour.

Almost two-thirds were in theAsia-Pacific region.

And is one of the world’s largest criminal industries.

Earning exploiters $150 billion a year.

What are we doing to address human trafficking and exploitation in

New Zealand?

Influencing within Immigration New Zealand & MBIE

Working through an all of government approach

Partnering with stakeholders in New Zealand

Engaging regionally and internationally

Exploitation Reported to the Labour Inspectorate

Reports By Employment Sector Referral Information

239

31

77

12

10

7

3

36

474

35

84

28

214

52

14

13

Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing

Communication Services

Construction

Cultural/Recreational Services

Education Sector

Finance and Insurance

Government Sector

Health and Community Services

Hospitality Sector

Manufacturing

Personal/Other Services

Property/Business Services

Retail Trade

Transport and Storage

Utility Supply

Wholesale Trade

0 100 200 300 400 500

• A total of 8020 calls received July 2013 to April 2018

• From these, 3226 (40.2%) have been recorded as related to Migrant Exploitation

• Of the 3226, 1162 (36%) have been identified as requiring referral to an Inspector

Exploitation Reported to the Labour Inspectorate

Employer Recorded Nationality Employee Recorded Nationality

1%

24%

0%

1%

3%

3%

17%

1%

10%0%

40%

Africa

Asia

Australia

Central and SouthAmericaEurope

MENA

New Zealand

North America

Pacific Islands

Russian Federationand Central AsiaSouth Asia

1%

29%

5%

7%

2%1%

10%

45%

Africa

Asia

Central and SouthAmerica

European

MENA

North America

Pacific Islands

South Asia

INZ Exploitation Case, Prosecution, & Convictions • 327 Allegations of Exploitation made to INZ

• 47 Cases Investigated by INZ Investigators after evaluation, 108 referred to other Agencies

• 10 Prosecutions resolved before the Courts, with 3 currently being heard.

• 9 Individuals charged and 8 Businesses charged

• 211 individual charges laid regarding exploitative practices and associated behaviours

• Law change May 2015

6%

12%

6%

6%

29%

6%

35%

Sentence Type by Percentage

Community Service

Custodail

Discharged

Fine

Home Detention

Not Guilty

Reperations

Operation Vitis

Overview of investigation

Operation Kauri

Restaurant set up

• Between 2011 and 2015, 9 chef work visas for 36 months. None of the 9 cooks who entered NZ completed the visa term granted with 8 of them departing NZ and 1 changing his employer through a Variation of Conditions (VOC).

• Of the 8, they all departed NZ between 1 week and 8 months of arrival in NZ.

• On 7th July 2015, Virgil reported Edgar MALIG as a missing person to NZ Police when he did not turn up to work on a day.

• He also reported that MALIG has been working illegally for another Café and insisted that MALIG be deported back to the Philippines.

“This is how I fight the cold, I cover my hands, I don't know whose socks these are. I'm here in the storage room. They locked me up here, I don't know what time they're going to call me to get me out of here. This is how cold it is here.

Whatever happens, I will still fight, to live. I know my friends are here, I know they won't abandon me. I hope that my visa gets approved so my life can get back to normal. Thank you very much to everyone who's been helping me just so I could get out of this inferno. I can still do this.”

Questions?