Migrant Workers in New Zealand: Occupational Health, Exploitation, and Solutions from Global Best Practices

New Zealand's economic backbone relies on thousands of hardworking migrant workers across various sectors, including construction, agriculture, healthcare, retail, and technology. However, widespread occupational health risks and systemic exploitation continue to threaten their safety and well-being. This article examines the employment of immigrant workers in New Zealand, the unique occupational health challenges they encounter, and actionable recommendations inspired by successful international models, including those from Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Singapore.

By integrating current data and media sources, this comprehensive guide aims to inform employers, policymakers, and the public about how to better protect and empower migrant workers in Aotearoa.

Top Industries Employing Migrant Workers in New Zealand

Hospitality & Retail

New Zealand's hospitality and retail industries, particularly in Auckland, depend heavily on migrant labour. News investigations by RNZ and MBIE have revealed widespread exploitation, such as wage theft, unfair dismissal, excessive hours, and illegal recruitment fees (RNZ, 2023; Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, 2022).

Agriculture & Horticulture

Thousands of Pacific Islanders work under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme in the horticulture and viticulture sectors. Many face gruelling workloads, overcrowded living conditions, and limited access to healthcare (RNZ, 2025; NZCTU/E/E tū, 2024).

Construction

Nearly 25% of Auckland’s construction workforce consists of migrants. Safety training is often insufficient, increasing risks from heavy machinery, falls, and fatigue-related injuries (WorkSafe NZ, 2024).

Healthcare & Aged Care

Migrants play vital roles as nurses, caregivers, and support staff in aged care facilities. These roles carry high emotional and physical burdens, exacerbated by under-resourcing, language gaps, and immigration pressures (NZ Work Research Institute, 2020).

Information Technology & Engineering

While skilled migrants are highly sought after in IT and engineering, job saturation and competitive pressures often leave them underemployed or facing job insecurity, which can impact their mental health and financial stability (PMC, n.d.).

Key Occupational Health Risks for Migrant Workers

• Elevated Workplace Injury Rates: Poor induction, unfamiliar environments, and language barriers heighten risks in physical roles (PMC, n.d.; WorkSafe NZ, 2024).

• Language & Cultural Barriers: Many workers struggle to access safety instructions or healthcare in their language (Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, 2022).

• Overcrowded Housing: Some Auckland properties accommodate over 100 workers in substandard conditions, raising concerns about hygiene and safety (RNZ, 2023).

• Mental Health Stress: Workers report feelings of isolation, anxiety, discrimination, and limited access to support systems (NZCTU/E tū, 2024).

• Labour Exploitation: Common under the AEWV scheme, where workers feel unable to report unsafe practices due to visa dependency (Tikanga Tāngata, 2024; Employment NZ, n.d.).

Global Best Practices for Migrant Worker Health & Safety

• Australia

Australia’s Migrant Workers' Taskforce and Fair Work Ombudsman conduct regular investigations, provide multilingual resources, impose fines for wage theft, and improve conditions in seasonal work schemes (Australian Government, 2020–2024).

• Canada

Canada regulates recruitment agencies, funds legal aid services, and offers safety training in multiple languages.

• Sweden

Sweden mandates employer-led safety training and union collaboration, resulting in a significant reduction in injury rates.

• Singapore

Singapore provides regular health screenings, independent NGO housing inspections, and transparent grievance channels.

Recommendations to Improve Migrant Worker Wellbeing in NZ

• All Industries

Multilingual safety resources, interpreters, culturally responsive healthcare access

• Hospitality & Retail

Stronger AEWV enforcement, wage recovery processes, support for union membership

• Construction

Mandatory multilingual inductions, fatigue risk management, regular inspections

• Agriculture & RSE

Routine housing checks, mental health programs, fair visa pathways

• Healthcare & IT

Career mentoring, stress management support, fair employment contracts

• Government

Transparent data collection, recruiter oversight, anonymous whistleblower protections

Why Occupational Health Equity for Migrants Matters

Migrant workers are essential to New Zealand's growth and prosperity. Addressing their health and safety needs is not merely a matter of compliance—but one of fairness, dignity, and national integrity. By embracing international best practices and enforcing local reforms, New Zealand can emerge as a global leader in migrant worker rights.

References

• Australian Government. (2020–2024). Migrant Workers' Taskforce and Fair Work Ombudsman Reports.

• Employment NZ. (n.d.). Migrant exploitation guide. https://www.employment.govt.nz/resolving-problems/migrant-exploitation

• Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. (2022). Working conditions of migrant employees (2021–22).

• NZCTU/E tū. (2024). Aotearoa’s Moral Failure on Migrant Worker Rights.

• NZ Work Research Institute. (2020). Work safety & future of work in NZ.

• PMC. (n.d.). Occupational injuries – migrants/foreign born.

• RNZ. (2023). Chinese migrants in overcrowded Auckland homes.

• RNZ. (2023). Crackdown on Auckland hospitality and retail sectors for exploiting migrant workers.

• RNZ. (2025). Concerns immigration policies eroding RSE workers' rights – unions.

• Tikanga Tāngata. (2024). Migrant exploitation in AEWV scheme.

• WorkSafe NZ. (2024). Overview of harm EWV scheme.