A Paeroa discount retailer has been hit with more than NZD $159,000 in fines after its former directors admitted exploiting two Indian migrant workers and deceiving Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
Dev Trading Limited (DTL), which traded as Super Clearance before it was sold to new owners, recruited two Indian nationals under the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme.
An investigation later found the pair were made to work up to 14 hours a day, seven days a week — including public holidays — without receiving their lawful entitlements.
Immigration NZ national manager investigations Jason Perry described the outcome as a win for both the agency and the workers affected. “This is a good outcome for INZ and, most importantly, for the victims,” he said.
“The callous exploitation of vulnerable migrants and the deliberate provision of false information to INZ is not just unethical, it’s criminal.”
He added: “Employers who breach immigration and employment laws undermine the integrity of New Zealand’s immigration system and harm vulnerable workers.”
“Maintaining the integrity of our immigration system is critical to protecting both migrants and the wider public.”
Immigration New Zealand said the case uncovered “unlawful employment practices”, including breaches of minimum wage, holiday pay and leave provisions. One worker also had more than NZD $6,000 deducted through payments disguised as loan repayments.
According to INZ, “DTL went to considerable lengths to deceive authorities, submitting false records and documentation to INZ, including fabricated rosters and payslips and even completing employment modules on behalf of the workers.”
“By doing so, the victims were denied the opportunity to learn about New Zealand law and their employment rights.”
Labour Inspectorate calculations put the unpaid wages and entitlements at more than NZD $158,000, with around NZD $140,000 repaid to the victims before sentencing.
Chetna and Hitesh Dave, the company’s former directors, pleaded guilty to five charges of exploiting temporary workers and two charges of providing false or misleading information to INZ. The court ordered a NZD $159,250 fine, NZD $18,684.72 in reparation, and NZD $5,000 in emotional harm payments to each victim.
DTL has since been sold and is now under new management.
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