New Zealand: International students exploited by kiwifruit industry
"I have been working for $9 [an hour] for the last 3 months and the contractor told me he will increase it to $10," says a 19-year-old Indian student working illegally in a Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchard.
"But when I asked the contractor last time he said, 'If you don't want to work you can leave'. There are lots of students willing to work even for $8."
The student, who remains anonymous, was talking to a researcher for an undercover survey, which has revealed that many such students are working illegally for up to 55 hours per week, usually for very low financial returns.
However, the report also shows that many of the "students" are themselves exploiting the system, as they have no real study to perform and have entered the country on false pretences.
The researchers found 93 students regularly working in Bay of Plenty vineyards and orchards for more than the 20 hours a week allowed by their student visas.
The students, who answered the 2010-2011 survey on condition of anonymity, were all earning less than the then minimum wage of $12.75 (now $13.50).
The report "Managed Migration? The health and safety and human rights implications for student migrant labourers in the horticultural sector" says that the survey's results raise questions about how two of New Zealand's largest export industries support each other.
The horticulture industry relies on the inflow of illegal students for cheap labour, whilst the education sector needs to question whether or not "students" who are working over 5o hours per week in the fields and orchards have really entered the country for the purpose of study, or if they are in fact in search of permanent residence.
The vast majority of those interviewed for the report were Indian. Almost half (43 per cent) were enrolled in courses in Auckland but lived most of the time in Te Puke or other kiwifruit towns, working in picking, packing, spraying, pruning, planting and processing.
Some said they made the five-hour return trip to Auckland each week to attend some classes, although it was unclear whether all did.
Most worked in horticulture to make as much money as possible to pay off loans, send remittances home and support themselves.
Although the wages were low - all were being paid between $8 and $11 an hour - they could increase their overall income by working much longer hours than in other industries.
The average was 29 hours a week and all the students said they normally worked more than the 20 hours allowed by their student visas.
The report described the long hours and low wages as a "Clayton's choice" as contractors could easily replace anyone who complained.
A quarter of students said they were not properly paid, but no one complained for fear of being reported or losing their jobs.
Several students noted that the contractor was paid a set amount by the orchard owner or manager to get the job done, so the less he could pay his workers, the greater his profit.
However there was also a large degree of collusion by the students, which suggested many came to New Zealand for jobs and permanent residency rather than education.
Horticulture New Zealand's national seasonal labour co-ordinator, Jerf van Beek, said the results weren't at all surprising.
"You can bet your bottom dollar that there's a lot more doing the same, but they're not willing to disclose it. These people have been operating in our industry for a long time, since these visas became available."
He urged growers to use the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme, which provided skilled and legal seasonal workers from the Pacific Islands.
"The education providers have got a role to play in this.
"They're the ones who are profiting from these students. They also have an obligation to keep their students safe, that they're not being exploited ... and we all know they are.
"Maybe the Department of Labour or Government should bring them on board to stop this happening."
Source: nzherald.co.nz
