Mattresses lie on the floor of a three-bedroom house in Papakura, Auckland, that is being used by more than 30 migrant workers. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom
The Indian High Commission in Wellington on Friday provided details on various mechanisms that are available to non-resident Indians seeking work in New Zealand who are reportedly being exploited by unscrupulous employment agents.
The mechanisms offer a lifeline to migrants who have relocated to New Zealand on the promise of a visa and place of employment only to find themselves without a job despite paying thousands of dollars to agents for their credentials.
Immigration New Zealand has launched an investigation into dozens of migrant workers who have been left stranded in Auckland after arriving in the country on accredited employment work visas.
"We have an 'open door' policy," Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan told RNZ. "Our effort is to support all Indian nationals. We have an effective system in place, and a team of officials are there to deal with such situations and other consular issues.
"We have a 24/7 emergency helpline. We have been holding open house and consular camps across New Zealand. Most recently an open house was held in Auckland on 13 August at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre."
Bhushan said she was aware of the recent allegations of exploitation that have been reported by RNZ and other domestic media outlets.
"We are in regular touch with (the migrants) and have also discussed the matter with Immigration New Zealand authorities," Bhushan said. "We have also seen reports regarding several Indian nationals living in cramped conditions having become victims of visa fraud. Our consular officer visited the sites on 16 August and offered all possible help to them. We will support them in every possible way."
The Indian High Commission's statement follows remarks in July by V. Muraleedharan, minister of state for external affairs in India, on the avenues of redress that are available to exploited migrant workers overseas.
Speaking in India's parliament, Muraleedharan tabled a detailed response on the "robust institutional mechanisms in place in missions and posts abroad for resolving the problems faced by non-resident Indians (NRIs)".
"We have an online consular grievances management portal called Madad (which means 'help' in Hindi)," Muraleedharan said. "Migrant workers and their families can register their consular grievances online and track their redressal."
The Ministry of External Affairs provided details on the types of complaints typically handled by the portal, which include agent recruitment issues, sponsorship or labour issues, worker abuse and employment contract allegations, salary and compensation claims, asylum requests, litigation, imprisonment abroad, repatriation, physical or sexual abuse, and marital disputes.
"Our missions and posts conduct open houses on a regular basis where workers can seek redressal of their grievances," Muraleedharan said. "We have 24/7 toll-free helplines in all our missions for Indians to seek help.
"Separate labour wings have also been established in our missions to assist Indian workers and NRIs in countries with a large Indian population. In others, consular or community affairs officers have been assigned the task of helping NRIs.
"In addition, a community welfare fund has been set up in all Indian missions to assist Indian nationals in times of distress and emergency. This fund is used to provide legal assistance, boarding and lodging assistance, emergency medical care, air passage to stranded Indians and transportation of the remains of Indian nationals."
Muraleedharan said migrant resource centres have been set up in Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Lucknow to assist emigrants and their relatives to redress their complaints regarding overseas employment.
He said a multi-lingual 24/7 helpline called the overseas workers resource centre had been set up in New Delhi to provide information, guidance and grievance redressal on all issues and problems pertaining to the overseas employment of Indian nationals.