News and updates
Ngā rongo kōrero me ngā whakahou

News and media releases from Employment New Zealand.

  • Exploited migrant employee felt like a prisoner

    A young migrant worker says she felt like a "prisoner" and regretted coming to New Zealand after being seriously exploited by her Central Otago employer for almost a year.

    • Migrant exploitation

  • 90-day trial periods extended to include all employers

    All employers in New Zealand, no matter their size, will be able to use 90-day trial periods, with effect from Saturday 23 December.

    • Trial periods

  • New requirements for employers under the Worker Protection Act

    The Worker Protection (Migrant and other Employees) Act 2023 comes into force on 6 January 2024. It strengthens immigration and employment laws to assist in protecting employees from exploitation.

    • Migrant exploitation

  • The repeal of Fair Pay Agreements legislation

    The Fair Pay Agreements (FPA) Act has been repealed with effect from 20 December 2023. Your rights and obligations under other employment legislation still apply.

    • Fair Pay Agreements

  • Restaurant owners who exploited migrant workers must pay over $420,000

    The former owners of 2 North Island restaurants who exploited migrant workers and breached numerous minimum employment standards must pay more than $330,000 in penalties, compensation and arrears.

    • Migrant exploitation

  • Restaurant owner penalised for unlawful wage deductions

    A Rangiora restaurant and its owner who unlawfully deducted money from an employee’s wages and breached other minimum employment standards, must pay the employee over $40,000 in arrears and penalties.

    • Migrant exploitation

  • Hiring summer staff: Tips for employers

    Over summer you may be expanding your workforce, whether it be with pickers and packers to help you on your orchard, or workers for your café or restaurant.

    • Seasonal workers

  • 85 Auckland businesses checked in exploitation crackdown

    The Labour Inspectorate last week conducted a large-scale operation to identify potential migrant exploitation and check on minimum employment standards compliance at 85 businesses in Auckland.

    • Migrant exploitation

  • More support for exploited migrants

    The Government has announced a short-term basic financial and welfare support package, including job search assistance, to individuals on the Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV).

    • Migrant exploitation

  • New law to protect migrant workers

    The Worker Protection (Migrant and Other Employees) Bill is now law and will protect vulnerable workers in Aotearoa New Zealand.

    • Migrant exploitation