The Indian Weekender, 11 June 2021

2 NEW ZEALAND
MIGRANT PROTEST
HELD IN AUCKLAND:
Calls to fix 'broken
immigration system'
Friday, June 11, 2021
The Indian Weekender
PAULA RAY
More than 400 migrant workers marched on
Queen Street to Aotea Square in Auckland
CBD on Saturday, June 5 to protest and
demand an immediate fixing of the “broken immigration
system”.
This was fourth such protest held in recent months
with multiple demands for several categories of
temporary migrant workers facing an archaic and
shambolic immigration system.
The protest witnessed participation from migrants
from regions far and wide such as Tauranga, Rotorua,
Wellington and Christchurch.
Anu Kaloti, president of the Migrant Workers
Association, present at the march, said, “These
departments [Immigration NZ] need to be more
humane and less bureaucratic.” Migrants were
suffering because of the government decisions
and policies. The government needs to look after those
who are stranded in New Zealand. “It’s about looking
after people who are already here,” she said.
The event was organised by The Federation of
Aotearoa Migrants, who have been holding vigilant
activities to generate awareness on this issue across the
country, including the Parliament.
Migrant workers have been invited by the government
to work in certain industries where there is labour
shortage. These workers should be allowed to return
to their country with dignity, pleaded the Greens MP
Ricardo Menéndez March. It was “unacceptable” that
the NZ government was keeping these migrants waiting
on their residency application endlessly.
Mike Treen, advocate for the Unite Union, also
joined the protest march and called for a solution to
the adversity migrants are faced with as the need of
the hour. It is of “urgent necessity”, he said, for the
NZ government to resolve the crisis situation. Over
the years, these migrants have made New Zealand
their home. Asking them to leave now will make
them homeless.
“
The migrant community’s
proposals will also radically
reduce migrant worker exploitation
that has been a scourge in our
community that has been tolerated
for far too long, and that will lift the
situation for all workers
“The migrant community’s proposals will also
radically reduce migrant worker exploitation that has
been a scourge in our community that has been tolerated
for far too long, and that will lift the situation for all
workers,” Treen said.
The process of attaching visas to employers
has only made it easier for employers to exploit
migrant workers.
It seems that despite the government’s stated
intention to reset immigration policies, the actions
and announcement suggests that the government
is choosing “status quo” and inaction over any
radical action.
More to come soon).