Hundreds of migrant workers remain out of jobs, out of pocket, and facing uncertain futures, following the collapse of a major labour hire and recruitment firm just before Christmas.
Around 1000 people were told they no longer had work after ELE Group called in receivers on December 20. A large number were migrants whose visas were dependent on working for the firm.
A fortnight on, some have already lost their homes and are sleeping in cars as they wait to hear how much of their final pay they may be entitled to — or if they get anything at all.
Red Aghuhar has friends who give him a place to use while they are at work during the day. At night, he sleeps in his car parked on the side of the road.
"It's hard," he says. "But I have to do it to survive, it's what I must do."
Having fallen behind on his car payments too, he's not sure how much longer he can rely on that as an option.
"I just have to fight, and to keep applying for jobs."
In a statement, one of the receivers, Deloitte's David Webb, acknowledged the workers' struggle but said a report into the ELE Group is not expected to be ready for several weeks still.
"We are aware that many ELE workers, particularly those with visas linked to their employment with the ELE Group are experiencing financial and mental hardship."
Webb said the receivers were working hard to connect former staff with potential employers and Immigration New Zealand.
Anna Casaje from Migrante Canterbury — an organisation working with many newly unemployed Filipino workers — said one of the biggest challenges was changing the conditions on the workers' visas.
"The majority of them were able to sign a new contract... which is a good thing," she says. "The challenge is the approval of their visa."
Immigration New Zealand deputy chief operating officer Jeannie Melville said the department has approved 21 job change applications from the 365 affected migrant workers, with one still currently under assessment.
"We are working closely with the employer, the employees and other interested parties to ensure these workers can remain in New Zealand lawfully."
But time, and money is running out for many.
Romano Dela Cruz lives in a house with seven others — all former ELE workers. They've been buoyed by food donations from the Filipino community but that will only assist so far.
He's worried that, without a new source of income, they'll soon be among those forced to sleep in their cars.
"If I could work, I'd work tomorrow," he says. "We need it — not just for ourselves — but for our families."
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