Several Filipino workers in New Zealand are placed under investigation for providing false and misleading information when they applied for visas, Immigration New Zealand has confirmed.
In a report by Radio New Zealand, Immigration NZ assistant general manager Peter Elms said the agency has started its proble after it discovered multiple issues relating to claimed work experience and job qualifications.
While Philippine authorities confirmed that it was investigating at least 30 cases, Immigration NZ has not confirmed the number of cases not whether it was investigating. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the country’s lead agency in deployment of Filipinos for work abroad, is also looking into the claims, the report said.
Earl Magtibay, of the Filipino Dairy Workers Association, told RNZ the investigation was targeting one recruiter who had brought 150 workers to the South Island and was implicated in 80 per cent of the falsified document cases.
Sources said workers may have paid $15,000 each for false documents.
This incident comes as the Philippines just signed an agreement with New Zealand to further protect Filipino workers from illegal recruitment. About 40,000 Philippine citizens work in New Zealand dairy farms, factories and rest homes.