Timaru Multi-Ethnic Council claims migrant abuse still exists

Timaru Multi-Ethnic Council executive member Kate Elsen (left) says the abuse of migrant workers on farms is still going on and presents a social responsibility for everyone. Mrs Elsen is pictured with council vice chairperson Kate Wright, also of Timaru. Photo by Graeme Stilwell.

She claims assertions that the New Zealand dairy industry is desperately short of workers mask the real reason migrant workers are in demand here - cheap labour and unofficial rates well below the minimum adult wage traded off against opportunities to be in this country.

Now that tougher times have reduced job opportunities, any unchanged demand for migrants would be viewed cynically by organisations established to protect migrants' rights, she said.

"Why can't New Zealanders be employed? Simple.

"New Zealanders would be more outspoken about terms and conditions on some of these farms," Mrs Elsen, of Timaru, said.

"And if there are so many unemployed New Zealanders, as we are told by some politicians, and we see these lovely ads on television about dairying careers being an opportunity to grow, gain qualifications and be part of an exciting career, why are they not being taken up by New Zealanders? Mrs Elsen believes it is probably only a minority of farms where abuse is allegedly occurring, but does not believe the feelings of some in the industry who say the issue today is nowhere near the concerns of a couple of years ago.

"I don't believe it.

"It would be a miracle if the issues of two years ago had suddenly disappeared.

"I believe there are still cases where a farmer has worked an under-the-table arrangement playing on the fact the some migrant workers are so desperate to stay here and ultimately gain residency they are prepared to put up with sub-standard working conditions to achieve that. "New Zealand farmers need to get into the real world and pay real wages, but the only way they are going to be held to account for that is by employing New Zealand workers," Mrs Elsen said.

"In my eyes, they are no different to the New Zealand industries that send their manufacturing work offshore to China to find cheap labour."

Mrs Elsen says the alleged abuse of migrant workers on farms presents a social responsibility for everyone.

"Farms have many visitors.

"There are family visits, business calls by farm industry representatives, stock agents, stock truck drivers, vets, school bus drivers, etc.

"Sub-standard accommodation and tough living conditions are not hard to spot, she said.

"Broken windows on out-buildings, people who are cold, children that have to walk miles to get to a school bus, children being left to walk unprotected along busy highways and without hazard clothing, wives of migrant workers who seem afraid to speak and shy away from contact are signs."

They could do this anonymously and in complete confidence, she said.

The role of the community and the effectiveness of intervention was demonstrated by a 2007 Mid Canterbury case in which she had been involved.

By chance, she had shared a north-bound bus ride with a Filipino worker.

She said the man was treated rudely by the bus driver in relation to his bus fare.

She became involved, paid the man's fare, and kept in touch with the worker.

"When I learned that he was cold and unhappy, I loaded my 4WD with blankets, jackets, coats, food and toys and as much as I could cram into my car that day.

"As I approached his house on the Mid Canterbury farm he was employed on, he ran out and asked me to hide my vehicle from the farm manager.

"I remember seeing a cracked window with a sheet over it.

"It had been broken for months.

"I found a totally inadequately equipped kitchen and one chair for what would later be a family of four.

"Bedding and clothing was sparse.

"The Filipino man was very shy and very frightened of rocking the boat."