The Immigration Service has suspended the licences of about six Ashburton farmers to recruit overseas workers while it investigates allegations young Ukrainians are being exploited as cheap labour.
The farmers, who were unable to find locals to fill vacancies on their dairy farms, had been given approval in principle by the
service to instead hire overseas workers.
Work permits, specific to each farmer, were later granted to the group of Ukrainians.
New Zealand First MP Ron Mark said yesterday that three of the immigrants fled from farms on Thursday, after he began inquiries, and have lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.
"The treatment of these people has been disgraceful and the Government is obliged to help them," he said.
Mr Mark said the three were part of a group of 11 Ukrainians who each paid US$2000 ($3600) to an agent for a Christchurch man who is a Russian immigrant.
The trio claimed they were exploited on Ashburton farms. They were paid a salary of $20,000 for working 13-hour days and $130 a week was deducted from their pay for "expenses".
A Sunday newspaper identified the Russian immigrant as Vladislav Nikolenko, believed to be an unregistered doctor.
Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel has confirmed that the workers came in under a scheme approved "in principle" by the Immigration Service and Work and Income to fill vacancies for skilled farm managers. She would investigate the claims.
The newspaper also named the three Ukrainians as Oleg Visenka, Sasha Zabiyaka and Yulia Mikhaylova.
Ms Mikhaylova said the group arrived in August after working on British farms.
The three said they paid US$300 ($544) to a Ukrainian agent working for Mr Nikolenko for finding work and administering work permit applications.
The fee was later raised to US$2000, forcing other applicants to drop out of the scheme and forfeit the US$300.
- NZPA
Herald Feature: Immigration
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