New Zealand immigration warns employers against hiring immigrants unlawfully

New Zealand immigration convicts a vineyard employer--The warning by New Zealand immigration department comes closely on the heels of conviction of a New Zealand employer on the charges of hiring immigrants hailing from Indonesia at vineyards by abusing immigration rules.

According to sources, 31-year-old Nixon Nixon, owner of a vineyard in Blenheim, South Island was found to be employing Indonesian workers through illegal means.

It is being alleged that Nixon was a joint owner of Walton Services Ltd, a vineyard contracting firm in Blenheim and is facing charges of cheating foreign workers from Indonesia and New Zealand taxpayers, stated an official of INZ (Immigration New Zealand).

He is facing 11 charges including those for immigration fraud and is currently facing six months of detention.

In addition, he is required to undergo 140 hours of community service along with a fine of New Zealand $120 for each charge, the New Zealand immigration official has revealed.

Apart from Nixon, his father and brother are also convicted for indulging in similar acts.

Conviction- a lesson for New Zealand employers-INZ–According to general manager of integrity, risk and intelligence for Immigration New Zealand, Steve Stuart, recent conviction of Nixon is a good lesson for any New Zealand employer engaging in foul means for hiring immigrant workers.

Stuart stated that several foreign workers hailing from Indonesia were assisted by the defendants between the years 2004 and 2006 while the former were staying in the nation undocumented immigrants.

Moreover, these foreign workers were also exploited financially by the defendants by deducting tax from their wages and keeping the money for themselves, the official further claimed.

It is not for the first time that a New Zealand employer has been convicted for hiring foreign workers in seasonal industries through foul means.

Since, viticultural sector and horticultural sector of New Zealand is always short of required labor force, hiring of immigrant workers is a common means for overcoming such scarcity.

New Zealand Recognized Seasonal Employment Scheme for ensuring legal immigration of workers—Under this program of New Zealand immigration launched way back in 2007, the focus is to allow seasonal immigrant workers on legal New Zealand visas.

Moreover, the scheme also ensures that the immigrant workers get due wages while making tax payments.

Employers in New Zealand are deemed to pay the minimum wage rate prevalent in the employment market under the conditions of Recognized Seasonal Employment Scheme.

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Harleen Kaur

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