NZ: Imam and Dairy Farmer Penalized for Exploiting Migrant Workers
Source: The DairyNews
In a recent ruling by the Employment Relations Authority, a Southland dairy farm and its proprietor, Reza Abdul-Jabbar, renowned both as an imam and a dairy farmer, have been fined a total of $215,000 due to the mistreatment of three migrant workers from Indonesia.
The penalties, totaling $145,000 for the company Rural Practice and $70,000 for its owner Abdul-Jabbar, were issued following numerous employment violations endured by the workers between 2017 and 2022. These violations ranged from failing to meet minimum wage requirements and neglecting holiday entitlements to tampering with payroll records, making unlawful deductions, and failing to maintain accurate wage documentation.
The case came to light in December 2020 when one of the affected workers lodged a complaint through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), citing issues with pay discrepancies, denied time off, and the employer's refusal to return personal identification documents.
Notably, Abdul-Jabbar, in addition to his role as a dairy farmer, served as an imam at a mosque in Invercargill, and acted as a religious advisor to at least one of the exploited workers.
According to Simon Humphries, head of compliance and enforcement at MBIE, the deliberate exploitation of vulnerable workers by trusted employers is unacceptable. He emphasized the importance of intervention to support such workers and underscored MBIE's commitment to vigilantly monitor and address instances of migrant worker exploitation.
The penalties levied against Rural Practice and Abdul-Jabbar highlight the severity of the breaches and serve as a stern warning to those who seek to exploit workers for financial gain. Alastair Dumbleton, an Employment Relations Authority member, condemned the deliberate manipulation of payslips as an attempt to deceive immigration and labor authorities, attributing the breaches to Abdul-Jabbar's blatant disregard for employment and immigration regulations.
In light of these findings, MBIE urges individuals experiencing unfair treatment in the workplace or those aware of such situations to come forward and seek assistance through their dedicated helpline at 0800 20 90 20.
The case came to light in December 2020 when one of the affected workers lodged a complaint through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), citing issues with pay discrepancies, denied time off, and the employer's refusal to return personal identification documents.
Notably, Abdul-Jabbar, in addition to his role as a dairy farmer, served as an imam at a mosque in Invercargill, and acted as a religious advisor to at least one of the exploited workers.
According to Simon Humphries, head of compliance and enforcement at MBIE, the deliberate exploitation of vulnerable workers by trusted employers is unacceptable. He emphasized the importance of intervention to support such workers and underscored MBIE's commitment to vigilantly monitor and address instances of migrant worker exploitation.
The penalties levied against Rural Practice and Abdul-Jabbar highlight the severity of the breaches and serve as a stern warning to those who seek to exploit workers for financial gain. Alastair Dumbleton, an Employment Relations Authority member, condemned the deliberate manipulation of payslips as an attempt to deceive immigration and labor authorities, attributing the breaches to Abdul-Jabbar's blatant disregard for employment and immigration regulations.
In light of these findings, MBIE urges individuals experiencing unfair treatment in the workplace or those aware of such situations to come forward and seek assistance through their dedicated helpline at 0800 20 90 20.
