Paeroa employer fined for exploiting migrant workers and faking records

Dev Trading Limited (DTL), trading as Super Clearance, pleaded guilty to exploiting migrant workers and providing false information to Immigration New Zealand. Photo / 123RF

A Paeroa business fabricated rosters and payslips to deceive authorities while it exploited its workers, Immigration NZ says.

Dev Trading Limited (DTL), trading as Super Clearance, pleaded guilty to five charges of exploitation of temporary workers and two charges of providing false or misleading information, Immigration NZ said in a statement today.

The company’s directors, Chetna Dave and her husband Hitesh Dave, recruited two Indian nationals under the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme.

An investigation revealed they were required to work extremely long hours, in some cases up to 14 hours a day, seven days a week, including on public holidays – all without being paid their lawful entitlements or complying with holiday and leave provisions.

One worker was unlawfully subjected to deductions disguised as loan repayments totalling more than $6000.

The company was fined $159,250 and also faced court-ordered reparation of $18,684.72 and emotional harm payments of $5000 to each victim, Immigration NZ said.

Labour Inspector calculations revealed more than $158,000 of unpaid wages and entitlements, with $140,000 paid to the victims before sentencing.

Immigration NZ said DTL went to “considerable lengths to deceive authorities, submitting false records and documentation to INZ, including fabricated rosters and payslips and even completing employment modules on behalf of the workers”.

“By doing so, the victims were denied the opportunity to learn about New Zealand law and their employment rights.”

National manager investigations, Jason Perry, said this was a good outcome for Immigration NZ and, “most importantly, for the victims”.

“They have received significant reparation and emotional harm payments, and this case reinforces that exploitation will not be tolerated in NZ.”

“The callous exploitation of vulnerable migrants and the deliberate provision of false information to INZ is not just unethical, it’s criminal.

“We will continue to work with our partner agencies to hold those responsible to account,” Perry said.

“Maintaining the integrity of our immigration system is critical to protecting both migrants and the wider public.”

Anyone with information about immigration fraud or migrant exploitation is encouraged to report it.

Contact MBIE on 0800 200 088 or report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.