Pinoy NZ Life Dec 18

02 WORKERS’ RIGHTS VOL 2 NO 2 | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: Pinoy NZ Life | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | Mob: 027 495 8477
www.migrantnews.nz : New Zealand’s first Migrant newspaper. Published since 1991.
“You are not in the Philippines anymore;
know your rights and speak up.”
By AISHA RONQUILLO
Contributing Editor
AISHA: What is the
root of the exploitation of
Pinoy builders in New
Zealand?
MIKEE: When these
Pinoy builders arrive here
they are already in a vulnerable
situation because
they are indebted to agencies,
loan sharks and
banks; they are expected
to pay off those loans.
There is also a problem
with the NZ labour market
rate. Most of them will
take low-paying jobs
regardless of their circumstances
and they are
happy to settle for less
rather than end up jobless.
They are not familiar
with NZ’s basic employment
laws; they don’t
know how to say No.
They are also afraid to
complain about abuse
because some of them are
tied to a single employer
and this prevents them
from complaining or
speaking up against
abuse. They all fear losing
their jobs.
AISHA: What was the
worst case you ever
encountered?
MIKEE: There was this
Pinoy builder who injured
his lower back. He went to
the doctor and was asked
if he could work. He
agreed to work from
August 2017 to January
2018, but the pain got
worse and it resulted in
both of his legs becoming
numb.
He came into our office
and I saw his photos
before the injury when he
looked human, but after
January 2018 he looked
like a skeleton. He
endured the pain and
worked on.
He was afraid to complain
or inform his managers
about his injury,
because he was afraid that
he might not get paid. He
wasn’t aware of ACC. He
just kept popping pain
relievers.
AISHA: How was this
case resolved?
MIKEE: We were able
to contact ACC and we
assisted him with his
WHY ARE PINOY BUILDERS
BEING EXPLOITED IN NZ?
No matter how devastating this narrative,
there will always be a Filipino out there
willing to risk their reputation and
personal safety in defence of exploited
migrants. Such individuals are rare and
they give us a unique insight on how this
saga began, starting with the naivete of
some migrants back home who unwittingly
take the bait of some businesses that take
advantage of a migrant’s desire to escape
the grinding poverty in the Philippines.
Not all that glitters is gold, the old adage
tells us.
Mikee Santos is a union representative
and an individual who goes to great
lengths to protect Pinoy builders. He
refuses to be bound by the 9-5 routine in
the office and often pushes the
boundaries of advocacy by being out in
the open, rescuing distressed migrants on
the road and exposing himself to the
hazards of this cause. He says that Pinoy
migrants are happy to help build this
country, but not at the expense of their
dignity.
efforts to look for a new
job. We also had a long
conversation and introduced
him to various
social services that are
available to workers. We
gave him information
regarding his basic
employment rights here in
New Zealand.
AISHA: Do you think
that the latest immigration
policies are to the
builders’ advantage?
MIKEE: For the
builders, it could be better.
There are still builders
right now who are currently
on a 1-year work
visa, but we are campaigning
for a 3-year open
work visa for them. I
understand that the current
policy of issuing a 3-
year open work visa
extends to students only.
AISHA: What is your
advice for those who want
to work as builders in
New Zealand?
MIKEE: Before leaving
the country they should
do a reasonable amount
of research about New
Zealand. There should
also be a post-arrival
seminar for new migrants
conducted by the
Philippine Embassy to
prevent the exploitation
of builders and not just
builders, but all migrants
as a whole.
Most Pinoy builders
come here without any
knowledge of ACC, the
health care system, basic
employment laws, or how
to obtain a NZ driver’s
license. They have no
idea of the cost of living.
They are clueless regarding
how to create a CV.
They should also be
taught how to understand
contracts and how
they shouldn’t be signing
any document that prohibits
them from transferring
to other companies.
All these aspects should
be presented in a seminar
a few months or weeks
after arriving in the country,
so they are better able
to spot signs of exploitation.
AISHA: What is your
message for Filipinos who
are in cahoots with exploitative
employers?
MIKEE: We are all
Kiwis now. We should all
be living the values of
treating people fairly and
equally. We should show
compassion towards our
fellow Pinoys who are new
to this country. They
should be ashamed of
themselves if they are taking
advantage of these
builders.
AISHA: What is your
message to an exploited
builder who is afraid to
come out in the open?
MIKEE: You are not in
the Philippines anymore;
know your rights and
speak up.
AISHA: In cases like
these, why is it so important
to make yourself
heard?
MIKEE: It’s important
for builders, or for anyone
for that matter, to be a
member of a certain collective
or group.
Here in New Zealand it
is actually illegal for an
employer to discourage or
prohibit employees from
joining a union. See the
Ministry of Business,
Mikee Santos
Migrant Advocate
Innovation and Employment
website: www.mbie.
govt.nz.
I encourage builders to
join unions, or if not, to
join a support group that
you feel can accommodate
your concerns. Reach out
to individuals that you
know you can trust. Don’t
let the abuse build up.
Editor: Aisha Ronquillo has
been nominated to receive a
Filipino-Kiwi Hero Award in
the Pinoy Journalist of the
Year category.