An immigration consultant is warning an entrenched underclass of unlawful workers will emerge unless the government provides emergency benefits to unemployed immigrants. About one in ten of the workforce is an overseas worker on a temporary visa. But immigration adviser Alain Koetsier said that was not a realistic option for many nationalities, who would be driven into bad situations. "Hardworking and taxpaying migrant workers will face the worst consequences - if they refuse to work unlawfully, they face extreme poverty, if they choose to breach their visa conditions out of desperation, they face deportation or exploitation." They said the government was also looking at a range of other options for temporary work visa holders and would make decisions as soon as possible.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 29, 2020 21:22 UTC