Filipino News April 2017

More documents

Recommendations

Info

02 APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | tel: 027 495 8477, 09 838 1221 | Facebook: Filipino Migrant News Cracking down on OFW exploiters PART 2: Jesus ‘Gary’ Domingo Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Foto credit: Migrant Times An excerpt from Part 1 of our investigation into OFW exploiters in the March 2017 edition of FMN www.filipinonews.nz: By MEL FERNANDEZ Editor, Migrant News www.migrantnews.nz ‘A Duterte-style clenched fist is being thrust squarely at OFW exploiters in New Zealand and overseas. The message to these wrong doers is - desist or face the wrath of the community plus a blitzkrieg by a host of government agencies. The ‘bad guys’ are on notice - they will be exposed, shamed publicly and punished. In the process it is hoped that justice will be served for the aggrieved parties.’ TE AROHA – In October last year Immigration New Zealand (INZ) revealed details about an alleged work visa scam that may have involved 1,000 Filipino dairy workers. A Waikato woman Loraine Anne Candor Jayme, 36, with dual Filipino/New Zealand nationality was arrested at her home and charged with offences relating to this suspected fraud involving multiple work visa applications submitted by Filipinos to work in the New Zealand dairy industry. “A CV was provided that showed work experience that wasn’t true or that was grossly exaggerated to apply for the role of an assistant herd manager that avoided a labour test that would otherwise have been required” Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse told reporters. Jayme was subsequently charged with three offences under the Crimes Act 1961 and given police bail until her first court appearance on 27 October. Further charges were laid when she next appeared in court. Eventually, in April this year she was sentenced at the Hamilton District Court after pleading guilty to 284 charges involving multiple fraudulent work visa applications. Judge Kim Saunders sentenced her to 11 months and two weeks of home detention and 180 hours of community work. INZ Assistant General Manager Peter Devoy said that the prosecution was a result of painstaking work by immigration officers. “The officers involved did a fantastic job of gathering the evidence which led to the WELLINGTON - The former Philippines national responsible for a work visa scam involving more than 1000 Filipino dairy workers should have been deported, not merely sentenced to home detention and community work, says New Zealand First Leader and Member WINSTON PETERS: “Work Visa scammer should be deported” Home detention sentence for work visa scam prosecution. Jayme systematically ripped off vulnerable migrant workers. Although these charges are very serious we believe that they only represent the tip of the iceberg of Jayme’s offending.” Devoy said that Jayme was charged in October 2015 after an INZ investigation uncovered her involvement in fraudulent visa applications. The investigation began after staff verifying visa applications identified anomalies in visa applications and a Southland farmer reported migrants claiming he had offered them work without his knowledge. Although the investigation was far reaching, the prosecution focused on five nonexistent dairy farms and fictitious employers created by Jayme through a complex series of forged documents, submitted to both INZ and other New Zealand agencies. She fabricated job offer letters and Employment Agreements, including false farm vacancy requests sent to Work and Income in order to obtain letters confirming the unavailability of suitably qualified New Zealanders. Jayme subsequently pleaded guilty to extensive charges of forgery, using a forged document, deception and supplying false or misleading Information to an Immigration Officer. Radio NZ reported that: “Between late 2014 and mid- 2015, she charged 17 Filipino migrants just over $2000 each to obtain temporary work visas for them to work on dairy farms in New Zealand. “At Hamilton District Court (during the sentencing in April this year), Judge Kim Saunders described the offending as deliberate and a serious breach of trust.” Editor – Part 3 of this investigation continues in the next edition. of Parliament for Northland Rt Hon Winston Peters. Immigration New Zealand should be mortified that over 1,000 Filipino farm workers have managed to undermine the integrity of our immigration system, he adds. “New Zealand’s immigration laws must be strengthened to prevent instances like this from occurring again and a strong message should be sent to anyone who tries to break them. “It’s the price of having a government obsessed with the view that escalating consumer numbers will drive the economy and who are intent on allowing cheap and compliant workers to dominate industries,” says Mr Peters. “At the same time the government keeps deceiving New Zealanders that immigration is about skilled workers. This is not the case. “It’s been obvious. No one in their right mind would suggest that the Philippines is full of experienced dairy farmers and construction workers. But there are 1,700 Filipinos on dairy farms here and thousands of Filipino construction workers in Christchurch. “Many are here because agents, often from the same country and charging outrageous fees, have falsified documents to show experience, either with or without the workers’ knowledge. “The workers learn their skills here. “A North Canterbury farmer, commenting on the latest scam, said that his workers built up skills after they reached New Zealand,” says Mr Peters. “They now have the ‘relevant work experience on farm’ and NZQA ‘recognition of learning’. “Researchers and economists could have predicted a need for farm workers, so where was the planning. Where were the courses and the cadetships to inspire and take young Kiwis onto the land to support dairying. “Kiwis were written off as too fussy, not flexible over hours and wages, etc., but it could have been different. “All that was required was some creativity. Take a bunch of young Kiwis to a farm and check out who has an affinity for animals and who looks suited to the land. Then put them into training. “Instead, people from overseas were accepted without skills and trained in this country. It was too easy to take advantage of people from countries where there is less opportunity.” Editor: Read Part 1 of this report on our websites: filipinonews. nz, and pinoynzlife.nz - continues on pg 3
1 APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | Facebook: Filipino Migrant News www.pinoynzlife.nz 03 By MEL FERNANDEZ HAMILTON - Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Assistant General Manager Peter Elms said that INZ first became aware of potential issues with applications from some Filipino nationals working on dairy farms in the South Island in February 2015. “Staff in our Christchurch office noticed discrepancies over qualifications and false claims of work experience,” Mr Elms said. “INZ began a formal investigation in March this year (2015), which has focused on the woman who was charged (in October 2015).” He said that the investigation had uncovered more widespread concerns of false or misleading information being provided in work visa applications submitted by Filipino nationals. It is claimed that Loraine Jayme, a Filipina, used New Zealand employers’ details without their knowledge in order to secure work visas for Filipino nationals offshore to work in the New Zealand dairy industry. INZ alleged that once the Filipino nationals arrived in Modus operandi of a visa fraudster MANILA - The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has warned Filipino workers against using falsified documents for their job applications in New Zealand. Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said that according to the Philippine Embassy in Wellington a New Zealand they never worked for the supposedly sponsoring employer. After a short period a fresh application was submitted for a new employer. It appeared that the actual employers were not aware that the work visas had originally been gained using false employer details. Mr Elms said that as a result of the case INZ has reviewed all work visa applications from Filipino nationals applying from the Philippines to work in the New Zealand dairy industry in 2015. That review has highlighted the possibility of this type of scam being more widespread. INZ has since strengthened its verification processes and is confident that similar offending has been prevented. “INZ has been undertaking additional measures to ensure that all documents submitted in support of new and existing visa applications for work in the dairy industry are genuine,” Mr Elms said. “These extra measures have resulted in an unavoidable delay in processing applications, but we are working closely with the dairy industry to minimise the disruption. “In the meantime INZ wants to reassure employers that dairy workers onshore remaining with the same employer are not being disadvantaged by any delay in processing their applications, as their current immigration status is being preserved by the granting of interim visas.” In a statement INZ said that: “Amendments were made to immigration instructions in November 2015 to allow further work visas to be granted to Filipino dairy workers who POEA warns Filipino workers: “Don’t use falsified documents.” substantial number of Filipino dairy farm workers entered the country using falsified employment certificates. The report said that unscrupulous individuals in the Philippines issued fake documents in exchange for NZ$15,000. Cacdac added that there were reports that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is now implementing stricter measures on applications for dairy farm workers from the Philippines. “The alleged irregularities may have been the cause of delays in the issuance of work visas for Filipino dairy farm workers,” Cacdac said. Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has ordered Cacdac to conduct an investigation on the alleged use of fraudulent documents. Baldoz also said that she is worried that this may affect the implementation of the just concluded labour agreement between New Zealand and the Philippines. Loraine Jayme pleads guilty to 284 charges involving multiple fraudulent work visa applications. may have provided incorrect information relating to their qualifications and experience with their original work visa applications. “Under the changes applicants who admit to previously providing incorrect information but who are compliant in all other respects are eligible to be granted further work visas, as long as they meet all other Essential Skills requirements. “The approach acknowledges that many of these workers are making a significant contribution to their employers and their communities and are well settled in New Zealand. It also accepts the admission of having provided incorrect information by workers who come forward.” - Photo supplied.
Page 1: 1Number Two Editions Fortnightly :
Page 5 and 6: APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipino
Page 7 and 8: CHIKA MUNA By SHEILA MARIANO AUCKLA
Page 13: Asian Migrant News Reach the broade

Filipino News April 2017

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?