Regime ‘underwhelming’

believed it was essential for them to stay in their job to access residency. ‘‘We need to address the policies that lead migrants to being exploited in the first place, such as employer-bound visas which create a massive power imbalance where the employer has huge control over a migrant’s life,’’ March said.

Radhakrishnan defended immigration policies that stopped migrants switching employers, but said the issue of allowing migrant workers to change jobs was one for

Minister of Immigration Michael Wood to address. ‘‘[We] want to make sure that, when people come into New Zealand to fill a certain gap, that that is the gap that they’re filling as well.’’

ACT’S Immigration spokesperson James Mcdowall said the Government had arguably contributed to future migrant exploitation by putting in place a new employer-led Accredited Employer Work Visa. ‘‘By tying even more migrant employees to employers, and by making the visa difficult to obtain for new migrants, the Accredited Employer Work Visa can easily make migrant exploitation worse.’’

Radhakrishnan said the Government’s changes also included a tougher penalty regime around migrant exploitation and new penalties for lower-level offences.

‘‘Introducing infringement offences will ensure that even lower-level offending such as refusing to provide employment documentation, are dealt with before it becomes more serious.’’