... about 200 people from Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia had paid thousands of dollars for visas and employment agreements to work with New Zealand construction labour hire company Buildhub…

Buildhub says it takes the allegations very seriously but categorically denies it had exploited, scammed or “sold” people’s labour to other companies, or that the employees had no work….

Manuel Herrera, 27, spent about $10,000 to come here to work as a construction technician but since he arrived on July 1 claimed he had only been given three days of work unloading boxes for a different company….

Diaz said they also didn’t have the money to buy furniture for the house and sit on the floor to eat when they get food that is mainly donated….

Perez claimed members who spoke about their plight, even on WhatsApp, had been threatened with deportation and sacking by Buildhub….

…lawyer for Buildhub, said: “With regard to your question about our client’s co-operation with Immigration New Zealand, our client is in the process of gathering information to assist with INZ’s investigation….

“Our client categorically denies that they have exploited or scammed migrants or that they have ‘sold’ them to other companies…