Heat goes on sweatshops exploiting migrants

By STEPHEN COOK

Sweatshop-type conditions have been exposed in a number of "ethnic" Auckland businesses by a special taskforce turning up the heat on illegal workplace practices.

Over the past 12 months the Decent Work Taskforce, with representatives from OSH, the Employment Relations Service and the Immigration Service, has been investigating suspected sweatshops.

Most of its efforts have focused on the Auckland area, where to date it has taken action against three "ethnic" employers and investigated another without success.

One of those was the New Lynn bakery where a Thai overstayer who worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week as a bakery assistant and general hand was paid $4.70 an hour, about half the present minimum wage for adults.

The overstayer has since been deported, but his former boss, bakery owner-operator Chikhoun Liuu, pleaded guilty to employing an illegal worker and breaching the Holidays Act. He was fined $2000.

Another case involved an Auckland sewing factory where the owners were forced to pay five employees a total of $8920 in unpaid wages and holiday pay.

Four of those employees were found to be working illegally and were deported.

An Auckland restaurant also was forced to pay a former Thai employee $2000 in holiday and statutory holiday pay.

Another five investigations are under way into "ethnic" restaurants in the Auckland region.

OSH spokeswoman Dionne Barton would not name the premises involved as inquiries were still being carried out.

Immigration Minister Paul Swain said the taskforce was committed to stamping out illegal workplace practices, and would focus on the worst cases of exploitation.