Bennett David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBennett David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 25 June 2013. Volume:691;Page:11185. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]8.DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East)to theMinister of Immigration: How is the Government planning to further combat the exploitation of migrant workers?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (Minister of Immigration):This week I announced plans to introduce tough new changes to the Immigration Act in order to make it clear that unlawful and exploitative behaviour will not be tolerated in New Zealand. The new offence will see exploitative employers of temporary migrants face up to 7 years in jail and fines of $100000 and be liable for deportation. By breaking the law unscrupulous employers not only prey on vulnerable staff but also gain an unfair competitive advantage over the majority of good law-abiding employers. The Government is taking the issue very seriously.Dr Jian Yang: What needs to happen to encourage exploited migrant workers to speak out and come forward?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: Migrants need to be able to speak out against exploitative employers without fear that they themselves will be penalised or even deported. That is why I have issued new instructions to officials asking them to shift the focus on to employers and away from the employee who comes forward with a complaint. I have asked that those who come forward be able to reapply for a new visa should they need it without the fact that they may have been in breach of their previous visa conditions counting against them. It is important that this message gets out in our migrant communities. That is why I have also asked officials to work closely with our migrant organisations and community leaders to build a communications plan through various channels to get that message across.Dr Jian Yang: How will Government agencies be following up on allegations from migrants who come forward?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: Immigration New Zealand agents and the labour inspectorate will work together to investigate and take action as necessary. As we begin to lift the lid on exploitation and get a clearer picture of the size of the problem we will distribute resources as necessary.Sue Moroney: Answer his question. You’re actually avoiding his question. He wants to know how it’s going to happen.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: Well if the member would be quiet I will answer the question. We will distribute resources as necessary to ensure that these new initiatives are properly supported. I am working closely with my colleague the Hon Simon Bridges who is in charge of the labour side of things. From an immigration perspective—[Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: Order! Would the Minister please finish his answer.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: —I am exploring future funding options around Immigration New Zealand’s enforcement capability.Darien Fenton: Does he expect Immigration New Zealand to do more with less when it comes to investigating and prosecuting cases of migrant worker exploitation as he told the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee a couple of weeks ago given there is no increase in the 2013-14 and out-years Budget for inspection and enforcement?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: I will clarify what I said to the select committee and it was this: “The last thing I would say is about resources. I make no apology as the Government doesn’t for asking our public servants to do more with the same.” I then went on to discuss the fact that with those same resources we have managed to reduce the overstayer rate by about a third from what it was under Labour and increase the number of voluntary departures from New Zealand by illegal overstayers by 50 percent. I think that is a very good outcome by our compliance team. I expect the same in the area of exploitation.