Eight migrant workers from Thailand last week had their work permits revoked and then reinstated after they complained about the illegal conditions under which they were working while pruning vines in the South Island.

The eight workers got national media attention after the owner of the vineyard they worked at threatened Seddon Pastor Brett Duffy for "meddling" in his affairs. The workers had paid recruitment agencies up to $14,000 each yet their employer, Havenleigh Global Services had them working 60 to 70-hour, seven-day weeks, including on public holidays. For this the workers received $200 a week, of which $96 was deducted for rent. Pastor Duffy told The Marlborough Express that this "was the tip of the iceberg".

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