Ref: 2324-0599

 

Dear Sumit,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 9 September 2023 requesting under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

 

“I came to know about MBIE is providing free accommodation to exploited
migrants at tax payers expense. How fair it is for us New Zealanders to
pay for foreigners when kiwis are in real need ?

 

Why is $220 per week offered as food supplement to migrants at expense of
hard working kiwi's tax when government debt is all time high ?

 

Why is government helping migrants to arrange jobs when at same time Kiwis
are struggling for jobs ?

 

If migrants hold no valid job offer shouldn't they be sent back to their
home country, no job = breach of visa conditions ?

 

Why INZ is not doing proper checks before granting visa ? How can an
employer with owning one truck got 3 migrant workers on AEWV ? Why
financial situation, how old and established is company are not being
checked ?”

 

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 6 October 2023, being 20 working days after the day your
request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then,
we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.  

If you have any enquiries regarding your request feel free to contact us
via email to [1][MBIE request email].

 

Nâku noa, nâ

 

Ministerial Services

Corporate, Governance and Information  |   Ngâ Pou o te Taumaru

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 |  P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[MBIE request email]
mailto:[MBIE request email]

Kia ora Sumit,

Thank you for your email of 9 September 2023 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment requesting, under the Official Information Act (the Act), the following:

"I came to know about MBIE is providing free accommodation to exploited migrants at tax payers expense. How fair it is for us New Zealanders to pay for foreigners when kiwis are in real need ?
Why is $220 per week offered as food supplement to migrants at expense of hard working kiwi's tax when government debt is all time high ?
Why is government helping migrants to arrange jobs when at same time Kiwis are struggling for jobs ?
If migrants hold no valid job offer shouldn't they be sent back to their home country, no job = breach of visa conditions ?
Why INZ is not doing proper checks before granting visa ? How can an employer with owning one truck got 3 migrant workers on AEWV ? Why financial situation, how old and established is company are not being checked ?"

Your query has been referred to our team and we will provide you a response as general correspondence.

Our response

Financial support is available for migrants on the Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV). This is a cross-agency short-term basic financial support for the victims of migrant exploitation. For further information, please refer to the links below:

- https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more...
- https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us...
- https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us...

Offering Government support to these victims of migrant exploitation is the right thing to do and does not take away from the Government support available to New Zealanders.

While the victims of migrant exploitation may be given job search assistance, they also need to meet Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) policy requirements. Under the Accredited Employer Work Visa category, New Zealanders must be prioritised by employers before a job positioned is filled with a migrant worker.

The MEPV allows the migrants sufficient time to either meet INZ’s requirements or make arrangements to return to their home country.

We continually monitor and review our settings to improve application processing. In light of our recent investigations into fraudulent employers, our rules and processes have been strengthened.

If the information provided is not sufficient, or if you have any further questions, feel free to submit a new request via our online form - https://www.mbie.govt.nz/about/open-gove...

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contact [email address]

Ngâ mihi,
Richa
Ministerial Services Team
Associate Deputy Secretary Immigration
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

NZBN 9429000106078

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