Warning on human traffickers

The National National

THE Labour and Industrial Relations department has warned the public not to be lured by human traffickers to work as seasonal workers on farms in New Zealand and Australia.
Deputy Prime Minister Davis Steven, who was caretaker Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations, made the remarks after New Zealand immigration and labour officers rescued 12 PNG labourers on a vineyard and sent them back to PNG.
Steven said the department had denied any involvement in the arrangement of these labourers to go to New Zealand.
“Regarding the affected workers, we will do what we can and where we can to assist the situation in due course to ensure the wellbeing of our citizens,” he said.
Steven said the ministry and the department was the only mandated government agency that was responsible for PNG’s labour mobility and seasonal worker programme in Australia and New Zealand.
“The public is advised to be aware of individuals, organisations or firms claiming to be agents for the PNG labour mobility and seasonal workers programme and soliciting fees for employment overseas.”
The public was also urged to report any suspicious activity relating to PNG’s labour mobility and seasonal programme to the Labour secretary and the office of the Labour Minister on 325 7167 or 301 7696.
New Zealand immigration officer Marc Piercey said they had sent 12 PNG workers home last month after discovering them working without pay for three months in a vineyard in Hawke Bay.
Piercy said the victims had entered New Zealand on holiday visas.
New Zealand employment relations authority manager Kevin Finnigan told Radio New Zealand that the workers had paid more than NZ$1000 (K2,221) each to get to New Zealand, and even though they were on holiday visas (valid for three months), they were under the impression that they would get paid work.
“The vineyard company were recruiting Papua New Guineans to go to New Zealand to be employed and learn new skills and get life experience, and take them back to the islands to their families,” Finnigan said.