In a sudden and distressing turn of events, over 700 Filipino workers in New Zealand found themselves jobless following the abrupt closure of the company they were working for, ELE Group of Companies. The overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), primarily carpenters in Christchurch, were caught off guard just days before Christmas and a day before their scheduled payday.
Gabby Martin, one of the affected workers, shared the unexpected nature of the closure, revealing that they were informed not to come to work and instead attend a Zoom meeting where the company’s shutdown was announced. Many of these OFWs had been in New Zealand for less than a year and faced visa-related challenges that restricted their immediate ability to seek new employment.
The workers, who missed two weeks of wages due to the closure, have been struggling financially. They have been getting by with help from fellow Filipinos and by fishing for their daily meals. The Filipino landlord of their accommodation has kindly allowed them to stay until they find new jobs.
Despite their hardships, these OFWs prefer to stay in New Zealand rather than return to the Philippines, where they face debts to pay off. The Philippine Embassy in New Zealand has reportedly provided assistance to some of the affected workers last week.
The OFWs hope for government aid and new job opportunities soon. Meanwhile, efforts to reach ELE for their side of the story are ongoing.