Issue 8, September 21 - October 4, 2016

New Zealand has a problem. Look at pages eight and nine, and you will know what I mean.

We can debate the reasons. Shortage of labour inspectors. Lax laws. Inefficient regulations. Not very strict enforcement. The list goes on.

But what is not debatable is that the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), quite frequently these days, passes orders punishing employers for exploiting migrant workers in one way or the other.

Hopefully, the substantial fines imposed in ERA judgements will act as future deterrent.

Co-ethnic
A sub-issue in this – though not discussed that much – is that majority of these cases are examples of co-ethnic exploitation of migrant workers. While the authorities will do their job, the communities must also play their role in weeding out such unscrupulous elements from within.  

Ambassador
A word of appreciation for the Philippine Ambassador Jesus S Domingo. For a career diplomat to be so upfront about issues concerning his community is rare.

Appeal
As you will see on page 10, this newspaper joins the chorus of very important voices which support the lovefoodhatewaste campaign. The statistics detailed in the campaign posters are very revealing. Time for us to sit up and notice.  

Moon cake
Finally, this newspaper would like to wish New Zealand's Chinese as well as the wider community, the very best of family reunions during the mid-autumn or moon cake festival.  

Gaurav

PS: The Migrant Times wishes all its readers Eid Mubarak! Since the celebrations happened too close to our publication date, we weren't able to cover the stories in this issue. Please bear with us till the next!