Paeroa Business Fined $159,250 for Exploiting Migrant Workers, MBIE Says

A Paeroa retail business has been hit with a significant penalty after exploiting migrant workers and providing false information to Immigration New Zealand. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) confirmed that Dev Trading Limited (DTL), trading as Super Clearance, has been ordered to pay a $159,250 fine following a guilty plea on multiple charges.

The company must also pay $18,684.72 in reparations and emotional harm payments of $5,000 to each victim.

MBIE says this case sends a strong message that migrant exploitation will not be tolerated in New Zealand.

Unpaid wages exceeding $158,000

An investigation by Labour Inspectors uncovered more than $158,000 in unpaid wages and entitlements owed to two migrant workers.
Before sentencing, DTL repaid $140,000 of that amount to the victims.

Jason Perry, National Manager Investigations at Immigration New Zealand, said the outcome is an important step toward justice.

“This is a good outcome for Immigration New Zealand and, most importantly, for the victims. They have received significant reparation and emotional harm payments, and this case reinforces that exploitation will not be tolerated in New Zealand.”

Workers are forced to work up to 14 hours a day

The victims, both Indian nationals recruited under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme, were subjected to harsh and unlawful working conditions.

According to MBIE Investigators, the workers were:

• Forced to work extremely long hours, sometimes up to 14 hours a day
• Required to work seven days a week, including public holidays
• Denied lawful holiday and leave entitlements
• Paid far below what they were legally entitled to receive
• Pressured with unlawful deductions disguised as loan repayments, totalling more than $6,000 for one worker

False documents and attempts to mislead authorities

Investigators found that DTL went to great lengths to cover up the exploitation.

The company submitted false rosters, fabricated payslips, and other misleading documents to Immigration New Zealand. They also completed employment learning modules on behalf of the workers, preventing them from learning about their rights under New Zealand law.

MBIE says this deception obstructed the workers’ understanding of minimum standards, leaving them more vulnerable to exploitation.

Jason Perry described the behaviour as deliberate and criminal.

“The callous exploitation of vulnerable migrants and the deliberate provision of false information to INZ is not just unethical, it is criminal. We will continue to work with our partner agencies to hold those responsible to account.”

Charges and legal consequences

Dev Trading Limited faced:

• Five charges of exploiting temporary workers, involving serious breaches of:
  • Minimum Wage Act 1983
  • Holidays Act 2003
  • Wages Protection Act 1983
• Two charges of providing false or misleading information to Immigration New Zealand
  • One charge during an investigation
  • One charge during an employer accreditation renewal

Under the Immigration Act 2009, exploitation of temporary workers carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

The company has since been sold and is now under new management.

MBIE urges the public to report exploitation

Immigration New Zealand says employers who break employment and immigration law undermine the integrity of the entire system, harming both migrants and the wider community.

Anyone with information about immigration fraud or migrant exploitation is urged to report it.

• MBIE: 0800 200 088
• Crimestoppers (anonymous): 0800 555 111
• Media enquiries: media@mbie.govt.nz

Reference

This article is based on the official media release from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) titled “Paeroa employer hit with $159,250 fine for exploiting migrant workers”, issued on 02 December 2025.