Moving to a new country takes courage. Migrants leave behind family and support networks to build a new life from scratch. Like generations of New Zealanders before them, they place their trust in the promise of hard work and opportunity.
That is why it is so distressing when we hear stories of migrants being exploited. I know many readers will have seen or heard of it first-hand. People working long hours for less than the minimum wage. Employers holding on to passports. Families too afraid to complain because their visa is tied to their job. These practices are not only illegal, but they are also deeply unfair to the people who come here to contribute.
Migrant exploitation is not a small issue. In 2024, Immigration New Zealand and the Labour Inspectorate received thousands of complaints, coming from many industries. Each complaint represents someone who is allegedly being underpaid, mistreated, or silenced by fear. Exploitation damages not just the workers who suffer directly, but also the reputation of New Zealand employers as a whole. When a few bad employers exploit workers, it risks tarring the honest majority with the same brush.
That is why the Government has introduced stronger laws to tackle exploitation. Under the changes, the maximum prison term for exploiting migrants rises from seven to ten years. That is a significant increase, and it sends a clear message: mistreating workers is a serious crime, not a minor offence. It’s a practical step that strengthens protections for migrants and reinforces fairness.
The change is about protecting everyone who follows the rules. People who work hard and contribute to their communities deserve to know the law is on their side. Those who exploit others undermine that trust and holding them accountable makes the system fairer for all of us.
As someone who came to New Zealand from India, I take this issue personally. I know how important it is for new arrivals to feel safe and supported, and to know that if something goes wrong, the system is there to protect them. My family came here because we believed New Zealand was a country where effort and integrity would pay off. I want every migrant family to feel that same confidence.
ACT has always stood for fairness. We value the contribution that migrant communities make to our society and economy. But fairness means making sure no one is taken advantage of, and no one is allowed to get away with exploitation.
Immigration is a privilege, and most migrants treat it that way by following the rules and working hard. They deserve respect and opportunity, not mistreatment. With stronger laws, we can make sure that those who seek to exploit migrants face real consequences, and that New Zealand continues to be a country where honesty and hard work are rewarded. -Dr Parmjeet Parmar, ACT party List Member of Parliament