Paeroa Employers Fined for Migrant Worker Exploitation

A Paeroa-based business owned by Chetna Dave and Hitesh Dave has been ordered to pay more than $159,000 after pleading guilty to exploiting migrant workers and providing false information to Immigration New Zealand (INZ). The company, Dev Trading Limited (DTL), which traded as Super Clearance, was also directed to pay $18,684.72 in reparations, along with $5,000 in emotional harm compensation to each affected worker.

According to investigators, the migrant workers were subjected to extreme working conditions, with some forced to work up to 14 hours a day, seven days a week, including public holidays, without receiving their lawful wages or entitlements. In one case, a worker faced unlawful wage deductions disguised as loan repayments, totalling over $6,000.


Labour Inspectorate calculations revealed more than $158,000 in unpaid wages and entitlements, with $140,000 already paid to victims before sentencing. In addition to underpayment, DTL knowingly submitted fabricated rosters and payslips to INZ and even completed employment training modules on behalf of workers, preventing them from learning about their legal rights in New Zealand.


Jason Perry, National Manager of Investigations, described the outcome as a major win for justice. “This is a good outcome for INZ and, most importantly, for the victims. It sends a clear message that migrant exploitation will not be tolerated in New Zealand,” he said. Following an extensive investigation by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), the deception was confirmed and successfully prosecuted. Although Dev Trading Limited was sold before sentencing and is now under new management, authorities stress that accountability remains crucial.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Several Hospitalised After Synthetic Drug Use in Auckland

Image
The Indian Weekender reports that health authorities have issued a high alert after multiple people were hospitalized in Auckland following the use of synthetic cannabis products. Officials fear a particularly dangerous batch of synthetic drugs is currently circulating in the community, posing a serious risk to users across the city and potentially beyond. According to a report by Stuff, drug monitoring service High Alert confirmed that those hospitalized had used synthetic cannabinoids-commonly known as “synthetics” or “synnies”-within the past 24 hours. The rapid onset and severity of symptoms prompted immediate concern among health professionals and emergency services. High Alert described the sudden spike in hospital admissions as alarming. While harm related to synthetic cannabinoids has been rising nationwide over recent months, officials say the sharp increase in severe cases in Auckland marks a worrying escalation. The organisation warned that this pattern reflects a broader ...
Read more

Papatoetoe by-election decision awaited amid fraud claims

Image
A district court judge has reserved his decision on whether Papatoetoe could face a rare by-election, following serious allegations of voting irregularities in Auckland’s most recent local body elections. The ruling, expected before Christmas, could have significant implications for public confidence in New Zealand’s postal voting system. The case was heard at Manukau District Court and stems from a petition lodged under the Local Electoral Act by former Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board member and deputy chair, Lehopoaome Vi Hausia. Hausia, who failed to be re-elected , alleged widespread issues in the Papatoetoe subdivision, including stolen voting papers, votes cast without voter consent, and unexplained statistical anomalies in turnout. The respondent to the petition is Dale Ofsoske, an independent electoral officer for Auckland. At a preliminary hearing in November, Judge Richard McIlraith ordered five ballot boxes to be transferred from Auckland District Court to Manukau District C...
Read more

Police Tried to Revoke Ashik Ali’s Licence Before Fatal Crash

The fatal crash that claimed the life of roadworker Johnathon Walters in May 2024 did not happen in isolation. Newly released official documents reveal a troubling history behind the company and its director, Ashik Alis , who was sentenced to three years in prison for manslaughter. Authorities twice attempted to revoke Ali’s Transport Service Licence (TSL), but those efforts ultimately failed, allowing unsafe vehicles to remain on the road until disaster struck. Repeated Warnings Ignored NZTA Considered Revocation-Then Backed Down Documents obtained by RNZ show that in both 2020 and 2021, regulatory officers raised significant red flags about Ali’s fleet, describing the vehicles as dangerously defective, unregistered, and repeatedly failing Certificates of Fitness (COF). In one 2020 email, Officer Mark Painter warned: “The state of their vehicles [is] now showing real safety concerns.” Despite strong recommendations to revoke Ali’s licence, NZTA instead issued warnings, improvement not...
Read more