New Zealand and the Philippines have signed a deal to aid the recruitment of Filipino workers and ensure they are not exploited.

Filipino workers make up the greatest population of foreign workers helping with the Canterbury rebuild following the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, as well as contributing to the labour force in other areas of the country.

New Zealand’s workplace relations and safety and immigration minister Michael Woodhouse and the Philippines’ secretary of labour and employment Rosalinda Baldoz this week signed the bilateral arrangement.

In a statement, Woodhouse said between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2015, Immigration New Zealand approved 5,614 temporary work visas specifically for the Canterbury rebuild, with almost half (2,568) going to Filipino workers.

“With such a significant number of Filipino workers coming to New Zealand to help with the Canterbury rebuild, we want to ensure these workers are treated fairly and not exploited,” he said. 

The arrangement complements the Immigration Amendment Act 2015, which received Royal assent on 6 May.

The amendment includes significantly strengthened penalties for employers who exploit migrant workers; a package of additional protections for migrant workers in New Zealand to support the Canterbury rebuild; and a substantial increase in the resourcing of labour inspectors and immigration compliance officers.

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