A New Zealand company director has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with 12 months to be served under home detention, after being found guilty of exploiting a migrant worker and demanding tens of thousands of dollars during her employment.
Palmerston North based Dodamwalage Kalani Helikumari Jayawardhana, known as Kalani, was sentenced on 6 July 2026 following an Immigration New Zealand (INZ) investigation into migrant exploitation offences committed while she was a director of Computer Express 24 Care Limited.
The court ordered Jayawardhana to pay NZD $59,657.68 in reparation, covering unpaid wages, Pay As You Earn (PAYE) contributions and $15,000 unlawfully demanded from the worker during her employment.
The victim, a Sri Lankan national employed as an office manager, was repeatedly pressured to make payments while trying to build her future in New Zealand and progress her residence application.
Immigration New Zealand National Manager Investigations Jason Perry described the case as a serious abuse of power. “This was a serious abuse of power. A migrant worker came to New Zealand looking for opportunity and a better future. Instead, she was repeatedly pressured to hand over substantial sums of money to the very person who employed her,” Perry said.
He said workers should never be forced to pay employers in exchange for employment or future opportunities.
“No employer has the right to treat a worker like a source of income. This worker’s wages should have been supporting her future, not funding her employer.”
Perry said migrant exploitation caused harm beyond financial losses, leaving workers feeling trapped and afraid to report abuse. “Employers who seek to profit from those aspirations are exploiting people at their most vulnerable,” he said.
“The harm caused by migrant exploitation goes far beyond financial loss. It can leave workers feeling trapped, isolated and afraid to speak up.”
He said the sentencing should serve as a warning to employers who attempt to take advantage of vulnerable workers. “Speaking up is not easy, particularly when your livelihood may depend on your employment,” Perry said, acknowledging the victim’s courage in assisting the investigation.
Immigration New Zealand said the case highlighted the importance of protecting migrant workers and enforcing laws against employers who abuse their position of power.
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