As from the 1st July 2021 Immigration New Zealand will be implementing a new visa category, namely the Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa. In essence, this is an open work visa that will enable workers in exploitative work places to leave their job without fear of losing their visas.
I commend this move on the part of INZ as worker exploitation still seems to be rife in the communities and industries that can afford it the least. More often than not, the exploited workers are unaware that there are options open to them as employers instill fear in them. Whether it’s threats of violence or deportation, it creates a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. I hope that this visa category is a step in the right direction for many of these disadvantaged migrants. To qualify for the visa, applicants must:
- Have reported the exploitation to the MBIE and the complaint must be assessed as credible.
- Be in New Zealand.
- Hold a work visa that specifies the respective employer as a condition of the visa. This is quite an important point, this does not apply to workers on an open visa, reason being that open work visa holders are not constrained to a single employer. This is only for workers who are locked into a specific employer and would breach the conditions of their visa by ceasing to work for that employer.
- They must still meet the health and character requirements as set out in the immigration instructions.
If you are in an exploitative work situation, contact us today for a confidential conversation and advice on the Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa.
