Migrant Labour –
New Zealand's Profit, Tonga's Sugared Loss

Until now, migrant labour from Tonga has been an undiluted source of profit for New Zealand industry, and at best a sugared pill for the Tongans themselves. The most obvious source of profit for New Zealand of course is the supply of workers for New Zealand industry, for whose upbringing, families, social security, unemployment and retirement the New Zealand employer and the New Zealand taxpayer have to take no responsibility. When these workers are needed, they come willingly, eager to earn the wages which, however inadequate in New Zealand terms, are much higher than they can earn at home. When the economic system takes a downturn, the system of short-term permits is a sufficient safeguard against having to pay unemployment benefits, and within a short period most Tongans (and other Islanders) can be repatriated. This system is all the more scandalous because of the increasing dependence of the Tongan economy upon trends in the New Zealand economy, so that even if people are conveniently repatriated in periods of low economic activity in New Zealand, they will face a situation of depression in Tonga as well.