New Zealand: Over a thousand migrant workers recruited through labour suppliers face redundancy, says union; incl. cos comments
Summary
Date Reported: 14 Jun 2024
Location: New Zealand
Companies
Extrastaff - RecruiterAffected
Total individuals affected: 100
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Philippines , Construction , Men , Documented migrants )Issues
Recruitment Fees , Contract Substitution , Irregular WorkResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: A spokesman for Extrastaff said the economic climate in New Zealand was challenging and demand for workers in construction has declined. “The slowdown has been very quick, taking many in the sector by surprise,” he said. “We have spoken with our commercial clients ... they don’t think there will be any significant change in how much labour they need in the short or medium term.” He said the company was engaging with staff on a change proposal, some of whom are Filipino workers here on temporary work visas. “Under the proposal, Extrastaff has offered to pay for their return home, and to pay them a small monthly allowance. We have also undertaken to bring them back here should conditions in the construction sector improve, and demand for workers increase,” he said.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 14 Jun 2024
Location: New Zealand
Companies
AIS Global - RecruiterAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Construction , Men , Documented migrants )Issues
Access to Information , Denial of leaveResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Mike Milligan, director of AIS Global said one of its business units had been impacted by the construction industry downturn. Staff had been urged to use up their annual leave entitlement, and when then is exhausted to then sign a furlough - or no pay leave - agreement. “Currently we have eight staff without a site assignment, four of whom have been provided return flights to their country of origin at AIS’ cost to spend time with family as we work to secure new assignments,” Milligan said. He said the company had engaged a third-party employment consultancy to provide specialist advice about the furlough arrangements.
Source type: News outlet
“Migrant workers brought in by labour hire companies face job losses”
More than a thousand workers recruited by labour hire companies from overseas are now facing redundancies, the union for migrant workers says.
Workers recruited from the Philippines have been urged to accept leave with no pay until the job market improves.
Companies who brought workers into New Zealand, and are now in the process of discussing redundancies, include Extrastaff, Adecco and AIS Global.
First Union general secretary Dennis Maga said those now facing joblessness numbered “more than a thousand” and many distraught workers had contacted the union…
He had borrowed about $14,000 from lenders in Manila to pay for his passage here, and with no income most of that money is now gone…
A spokesman for Extrastaff said the economic climate in New Zealand was challenging and demand for workers in construction has declined…
He said the company was engaging with staff on a change proposal, some of whom are Filipino workers here on temporary work visas…
…[Adecco country manager] told the Herald this was a difficult and challenging time, and the company was supporting those impacted…
…director of AIS Global said one of its business units had been impacted by the construction industry downturn…