PH Embassy in Wellington Provides Financial Assistance to Filipinos Affected by Closure of Bankrupt New Zealand Company
Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Kira Christianne D. Azucena, Consul General Christopher Aro, and MWO Labor Attaché Angel Borja Jr. meet with Mr. John Canor (in black left) and Mr. Jonar Bautista (in yellow shirt), former employees of ELE Group of Companies working as carpenters in Porirua, Wellington. Mr. Canor and Mr. Bautista lost their jobs after ELE closed down just before the Christmas holidays. Over 500 Filipinos in New Zealand were affected by the ELE closure. (Wellington PE photo)
WELLINGTON 05 January 2024 – The Philippine Embassy in Wellington started disbursing on 04 January 2024 financial assistance to Filipino workers in New Zealand who lost their job as a result of the closure of ELE Group of companies (i.e. ELE Holdings Limited, ELE Management Limited, ELE Limited, Tranzport Solutions Limited, and RISQ New Zealand Limited).
In a meeting on 05 January 2024 at the Philippine Embassy with some of the affected Filipinos, Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Kira Christianne D. Azucena conveyed to the laid-off workers that the financial assistance was an expression of the Philippine Government’s steadfast commitment to the welfare of Filipinos overseas, especially those in distress.
It is estimated that over 500 Filipino workers lost their job after the company receivership of ELE Group of Companies, a New Zealand labor hire company that provides workers for New Zealand’s construction sector. The closure of the company took effect just before the Christmas holidays, affecting Filipino workers that were holders of both work visas and resident visas. Filipinos holding work visas are permitted to find new employment under New Zealand regulations, but this process will take about two months.
To help tide the laid-off Filipino workers over until they find new employment, the Philippine government is providing them with USD 600 one-time financial assistance each. Funding was sourced from the Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the amount is being disbursed by the Philippine Embassy by wire transfer to the beneficiaries. END
The Embassy and MWO teams also met with Mr. Lamberto Molina (third from the right in black shirt) and his two colleagues Mr. Henry Ballesteros and Mr. Antonio Barcelon (in blue shirts), who are light automotive mechanics for ELE in Petone, Wellington. (Wellington PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.wellingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philembassy.org.nz, or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNZ/.