By JOSIE CLARKE
The woman charged with running an Auckland sweatshop says she is the victim of Labour Department prejudice against Asian workers.
Sopana Kirk and her husband, Frank, spoke out yesterday after the Labour Department and Immigration Service raided their New Lynn home and factory on Wednesday, taking 14 Thai workers
away with them.
She faces allegations that she underpaid her staff by almost $400,000.
The couple claim the department targeted their factory because they employ Asian immigrants. They say they are the fifth such outlet to be raided in recent weeks.
Labour Department chief inspector Mike Feely denied the Kirks' claims.
Frank Kirk admitted there were "some little bits of truth" in the allegations against the company. The "girls" sometimes worked until 10 pm, but were paid a flat rate of $9 for every hour they worked - $1.50 an hour more than the minimum wage.
The Kirks admit they did not pay holiday pay. But they say they did give their employees financial gifts, at Christmas and when they had worked to finish orders on time.
Mr Kirk said the workers had signed documents verifying the hours they had worked but the Labour Department had convinced them to change their stories.
He also disputes the $124,000 the department is claiming in penalties on top of the holiday rebate.
The couple said they paid the women's fares to New Zealand, provided free accommodation and fed them until it became too expensive, took them shopping and provided transport to and from work.
