Business owner sentenced for migrant exploitation

A business owner of several Auckland and Hamilton based businesses was sentenced for migrant exploitation.

Sneha Patel was sentenced to 11 months home detention today in the Hamilton District Court for 6 charges of exploitation of unlawful or temporary employees, 2 charges of aiding and abetting and 1 charge of provision of false or misleading information. She was also ordered to pay NZD $49,858.96 reparation to the victims.

Patel, owner and operator of several Auckland and Hamilton based businesses, pleaded guilty to the charges in May 2024 after an investigation by Immigration New Zealand.   
 
Jason Perry, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) National Manager Immigration Investigations, says the convictions send a clear message to those looking to take advantage of unlawful or temporary workers.  
 
“Ms Patel’s sentencing is a result of a complex 5-year Immigration New Zealand investigation – demonstrating our commitment to holding offenders accountable and protecting the rights of all workers in New Zealand, regardless of their immigration status” says Mr Perry.  
 
The investigation uncovered Patel had failed to pay approximately NZD $41,000 dollars under the Minimum Wage Act 1983 and approximately NZD $9,000 for entitlements under the Holidays Act 2003 to 3 employees over an eight-month period in 2018.  
 
Patel, knowingly employed and aided a person to remain unlawfully in New Zealand, intentionally mistreated and misled her employees and provided false or misleading information to Immigration New Zealand to progress a visa application. 
 
The employees were required to work long hours, and one had to sleep in a work vehicle or on the floor of a storeroom. Patel either did not pay the employees at all, or at a rate less than the minimum wage for the hours they worked.  
 
“While failing to pay her workers according to their statutory minimum entitlements, Patel chose to purchase and open a further 2 businesses. Employers and individuals who think they can take advantage of unlawful or temporary workers for their own financial gain should know this will not be tolerated – they will be investigated and held to account,” says Jason Perry. 
 
“It is important that employers understand and comply with their responsibilities and obligations to their employees under the Immigration Act 2009 and pay all employees according to New Zealand employment law.” 
 
We encourage any person who thinks they could be the victim of immigration fraud or migrant exploitation to come forward and contact us as soon as possible to discuss their circumstances. Victims can also make a complaint to Police or Crime Stoppers. 
 
To report a case of fraud or exploitation, contact: 

• MBIE’s reporting line on 0800 200 088  
• Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

For more information on how to get help if you or someone you know is not being treated fairly:

Get help for victims of migrant exploitation

For further information about this media release:

Email media@mbie.govt.nz