Paeroa employer hit with NZD $159,250 fine for exploiting migrant workers

A Paeroa business has been sentenced to pay a NZD $159,250 fine after pleading guilty to exploiting migrant workers and providing false information to Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

Dev Trading Limited (DTL), trading as Super Clearance, also faces court-ordered reparation of NZD $18,684.72 and emotional harm payments of NZD $5,000 to each victim.

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

"This is a good outcome for INZ and, most importantly, for the victims,” says Jason Perry. National Manager Investigations. “They have received significant reparation and emotional harm payments, and this case reinforces that exploitation will not be tolerated in New Zealand.”

The company’s directors, Chetna Dave and her husband Hitesh Dave, recruited 2 Indian nationals under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme and subjected them to unlawful employment practices. This included:

• 5 charges of exploitation of temporary workers — serious breaches of the Minimum Wage Act 1983, Holidays Act 2003, and Wages Protection Act 1983
• 2 charges of provision of false or misleading information to INZ during an investigation and in an application to renew employer accreditation.

The investigation revealed that the workers were required to work extremely long hours, in some cases up to 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, even working 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 over NZD $6,000.

DTL went to considerable lengths to deceive authorities, submitting false records and documentation to INZ, including fabricated rosters and pay slips 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.

After a lengthy and detailed investigation, Ministry of Business, Immigration and Employment (MBIE) Immigration Investigators were able to uncover the deception and hold the offenders accountable in court.

“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,” Jason says.

Employers who breach immigration and employment laws undermine the integrity of New Zealand’s immigration system and harm vulnerable workers.

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

Prior to sentencing, the Dev Trading Limited was sold, and is now under new management

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.

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