New Zealand's sweat-shop slaves...

Secret papers reveal the government has allowed fishermen from poor countries to be exploited in New Zealand waters.

Workers are fishing in rusting boats turned into high seas sweatshops that take large parts of the country's $1.4 billion-a-year catch.

The government papers reveal that thousands of men from poor areas are beaten and forced to work for days without rest, earning between $260 and $460 a month before paying much of it over to "agents".

Files obtained under the Official Information Act show the government has known about the problem for some time.

(...)

She pointed to an incident when 10 Indonesian fishermen escaped from the Korean vessel Sky 75 in Nelson. "They were fed rotten meat and vegetables, told to shower by standing on deck in the waves, made to continue working when sick or injured, and were constantly beaten. They endured all this for wages of $US200 a month – wages that weren't being paid." Full story...

Don't miss:

1. China's disabled exploited as slaves...
2. A Commonwealth shame for  India...
3. The child slaves of India...
4. The slave children of Bangladesh (Photostory)
5. Campaign launched in Switzeralnd for exploited Asian “fashion victims”
6. British fashion industry accused of exploiting Asian workers...