The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that the Philippine Embassy in Wellington is meeting with overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in New Zealand regarding the reported exploitation by their employers.
In a statement, the DFA said that they are working with Migrante Aotearoa and New Zealand trade unions to address various concerns of Filipino workers.
This comes after a recent study by New Zealand trade union E Tū Union reported that Filipino construction workers were being paid $16 to $19 per hour on average, lower than their co-workers whose wages were around $35 per hour. It also reported unexplained deductions and alleged violations in the OFWs’ contracts.
The Embassy is coordinating with New Zealand government to tackle the reported exploitation.
Ambassador Jesus Domingo also reminded Filipinos considering working and studying in New Zealand to make sure that the offers are genuine and not misleading.
