By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

RAROTONGA, Cook Islands – Foreign workers in the Cook Islands are registering complaints with the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Labour Office that include physical and verbal abuse, working long hours, and not being paid wages.  Labour and Consumer Services Director Helen Maunga says, “We’ve received complaints from foreign employees about their employer failing to pay wages on time, long hours from dawn til dusk, no proper safety gear, two jobs under one employment contract, improper working environment and sleep quarters – just to name a few.”

Maunga says she regularly receives complaints and inquiries from foreign workers who do not want to disclose their identities.  Because they do not want to disclose their identity, many are reluctant to lodge formal complaints.  These workers are afraid of being deported by their employers if they do formally identify themselves.

She stresses that employers that have foreign workers should comply with the applicable legal guidelines.  “The role of this office is to ensure that employers do comply with relevant labour legislations of this country.  In the past, I have seen contracts with provisions quoted from the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, Fiji and New Zealand!”

Strengthening the office is a priority for the present government especially because new Employment Relations legislation is being prepared for tabling in Parliament for the near future.

For more information, please see:

Pacific Islands Report – Foreign Workers in Cook Islands Complain of Abuse – 10 November 2008

Cook Islands News – Foreign Workers Abused – 01 November 2008