Questionable Employment Practices at NZ Vineyards

Filed in archive New Zealand Wines , Vineyards , Wine Making , Wineries on July 9, 2007

There is no question that New Zealand wines are hot, and the demand for them is growing, which means that wineries want to produce more. Unfortunately, it seems that some employers are taking advantage of the migrant workers they are using to pick grapes, and consequently putting the entire industry at risk. There is a movement to organize unions for these workers and to make sure their rights are upheld.

From Scoop Independent News:

"Employers in viticulture need to be careful not to put the reputation of a major export industry at risk through shoddy employment practises," CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

"The CTU supports the Department of Labour investigations into the case of several migrant workers in Blenheim vineyards, including eight Thai workers whose work permits have been revoked after they spoke out about their employer's work practises."

The workers say they were oversold the benefits before they left their home countries, and have not received expected wages and basic employment rights since they have been here.

"These workers' stories are not unfamiliar, and we have seen previous problems in fishing and horticulture recently."

"Rogue employers can use migrant labour to undermine the terms and conditions of workers in a broader industry, taking advantage of their vulnerability and lack of collective organisation."