3. Approach to the review Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission (the Commission) has a responsibility to advocate for and promote respect for human rights in Aotearoa New Zealand.8 All people in Aotearoa have the right to dignity, equality, respect and the protection of the law. In 2023, the Commission became aware of growing concerns about adverse human rights impacts on workers participating in the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme. This was apparent from media reports and through human rights concerns raised with the Commission by community and union stakeholders. From January to May 2024, the Commission met with key stakeholders and workers to better understand the human rights risks within the AEWV scheme. We met with: • workers participating in the AEWV scheme (predominantly male workers from China, India and the Philippines) • migrant community workers • migrant worker advocates • migrant union representatives • an ethical recruiter • immigration agents • a journalist who had extensively covered the AEWV scheme • a business participating in the AEWV scheme • a rural community representative. 8 8 The Commission has been impressed by the genuine commitment from all stakeholders to ensure the AEWV scheme, and immigration policy more broadly, protects and respects the human rights of workers coming to Aotearoa. During stakeholder engagements, the Commission identified significant human rights risks within the AEWV scheme, including risks to the following rights: • to equality and non-discrimination • to just and favourable working conditions • to an adequate standard of living • to health • to freedom of association • to an effective remedy and access to justice. Additionally, we have identified the need for the scheme to adequately protect workers against human trafficking and modern slavery. This review focuses on giving voice to the experiences of workers participating in the AEWV scheme and acknowledges the direct effect on them of the human rights risks in the scheme. Section 5, Human Rights Act 1993. The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Human Rights Review