Two Fijian Women Claim They Were Held As Slaves

SUVA – A New Zealand woman has been charged for exploiting two Fijian women, who worked in her home for seven days a week on a weekly wages of $40.

The businesswoman has been committed for trial in the Wellington District Court on a date yet to be set.

According to the www.stuff.co.nz, one of the women said in a written statement included in court committal papers that I was just like a slave to them. I did not feel free at all.

The woman claimed she was told by her employer that if she did not like her conditions, then she could work at a strip club. Her employer, the New Zealand businesswoman, faces 12 charges, including exploiting people not entitled to work in New Zealand by not paying the minimum wage or holiday allowances.

She also faces charges of providing false information to an immigration officer, and helping or procuring a breach of a visitors visa.

The website says evidence was that one of the women who worked for the businesswoman from June 2010 to October 2011 received $4560.

A labour inspector calculated that if paid at the minimum wage for a 12-hour day, the woman should have received $66,285 gross or $132,571.74 gross based on a 24-hour day.

The woman who worked from February to October 2011 should have received $34,366.95 gross based on a 12-hour day or $68,733.90 gross based on a 24-hour day but was paid only $1320.

The two Fijian women said in their statements that they were living at the business-woman’s house and they were expected to look after children 24 hours a day as well as doing housework, and not allowed their passports.