Contractor in court over exploitation of migrant workers

The labour contractor appeared in court on 32 charges. Photo / File

A labour contractor has appeared in court on 32 charges, including a dozen relating to the exploitation of migrant workers.

Jafar Kurisi, also known as Md Wagid Ali, appeared in Tauranga District Court this morning, New Zealand Immigration said.

The 51-year-old was accused of employing workers who were not legally entitled to work, paying workers rates below the minimum wage, not giving holiday entitlements and providing substandard accommodation and food.

"Six of the workers were Fijian nationals recruited in Fiji while the four others were already in New Zealand on visitor visas and working unlawfully," New Zealand Immigration said in a statement.

"The six Fijians have now all returned to Fiji but the four others are in New Zealand on valid working-holiday visas."

Kurisi faced ten 10 charges of aiding and abetting the 10 workers to breach the conditions of their visas, six charges of failing to pay entitlements outlined in the Holidays Act and six charges of failing to pay at least minimum wage.

The maximum penalty for the offences was seven years' imprisonment, or a fine of $100,000, or both.

Kurisi was also charged with 10 counts of employing workers knowing they weren't entitled to work. New Zealand Immigration said the maximum penalty for each of those offences was a fine of $50,000.

Kurisi was remanded on bail until his next court appearance on June 19.