ELE Group collapse: Foodbank drive for laid-off construction workers

Carpenter Guillermo Fabello is among those who learnt abruptly of the massive job layoffs just before Christmas. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

A union says food companies have started donating for hundreds of workers laid off from failed construction recruiter ELE.

“We’re organising a 48-hour foodbank challenge for everyone affected,” Union Network of Migrants’ co-ordinator Mikee Santos said.

“My phone is blowing up right now,” he told the Herald.

This afternoon, Santos was on the way to 120 Church St in Onehunga, where the foodbank will be set up at First Union’s premises.

“We have many commitments from Filipino businesses, individuals and other entities.”

• AFFECTED WORKERS CAN EMAIL AEWVworkerresponse@mbie.govt.nz FOR HELP WITH IMMIGRATION ISSUES

An estimated 1000 or more people have lost their jobs in the ELE Group collapse. Perhaps 750 of them are estimated to be from the Philippines.

Donations

Santos this afternoon compiled a list of registered organisations for people wishing to donate to the workers who abruptly lost their jobs.

Gabriela Aotearoa NZ, Migrant Action Trust and others have listed two account numbers for the ELE workers’ relief.

There is a BNZ account with the number 02-0528-0575777-001 for Banyuhay Aotearoa, a not-for-profit organisation for the Filipino community.

And there is a Migrante Aotearoa Kiwibank account with the number 38-9015-0783387-01.

“We really believe everyone should celebrate Christmas, regardless of their circumstances,” Santos said.

He said more donations were expected to be received at the foodbank on Saturday. Then he expects the distribution to start on Sunday.

“We have a list of the boys,” he said, referring to community members who were out of work.

Santos earlier today said Foodstuffs, Countdown and the Kai Ika Project had been in talks with the union trying to help the Filipino community.

Dad out of work

Among the hundreds of workers laid off in the ELE collapse is carpenter Guillermo Fabello, who arrived in New Zealand about seven years ago.

His wife and three children arrived in the country about eight months ago.

Now he’s out of work just before Christmas.

“My work from last week until now is not paid,” he told the Herald this morning.

Today it was reported ELE asked some staff to take pay cuts or redundancy just before receivers were appointed.

“Some of them were really scared because they feared losing their jobs and maybe being unable to stay in New Zealand,” said Dennis Maga, general secretary of First Union whose members are some of the workers impacted.

Some hire workers, earning $35/hour, were asked if they agreed to taking $32/hour or face redundancy, he said.