| Friday, 12 October 2012, 6:39 pm Press Release: First Union |
Union takes case for underpayment of migrant worker
A new network protecting migrant workers’ rights is taking up the case of a migrant worker who was underpaid for several years while she worked as a domestic servant in Auckland.
Tonight’s One News featured the story of the worker, who has now returned to the Philippines.
FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid said the worker came to FIRST Union’s migrant workers network (UNEMIG), asking for support and backup for her to leave the house where she was living.
“Several members of UNEMIG visited her home and removed her safely. They were in contact with the Police during this operation,” Robert Reid said.
“We have had confirmation that the worker is safely back in the Philippines. She was very nervous understandably, and asked us not to publicise this issue till she was safe.”
The worker had asked UNEMIG to pursue an employment grievance on her behalf, for unpaid wages, and the lack of sick and holiday pay. This will be filed with the Employment Relations Authority on Monday,” Robert Reid said.
“We are now able to highlight her case to help the public and authorities get a better understanding about the way migrant workers are being treated in this country. Our network will continue to step in to help migrant workers get their rights,” Robert Reid said.
Ends.
First of all if this woman came from the Phillipines all the way here she would know the minimum wage, they are not stupid. This woman would have voluntarily put herself in this position to get here. She knew exactly what she was doing. Undercutting the NZ legal minimum wage to get an advantage over NZers. She wasn’t after just a job she was after citizenship to enable her to bring “family” members here, to exploit our welfare system. Welfare money she would be getting a cut of for life. Like so many others are, this is the real secret of asian success in NZ.
She came here with a job already organised. There is no way she would have been allowed in the country otherwise. When she realised that she was being ripped off and the situation became intolerable she dobbed her employers in. My understanding is she has returned to the Phillipines. There is absolutely no basis or evidence for what you claim about her motivations or intentions. Read TVNZ’s report about the case if want to rely on actual facts rather than prejudice: