Vineyard complaint not upheld

A former Blenheim man who was investigated over allegations he swindled Korean vineyard workers has been cleared by the Department of Labour, but complainants say the case will have a lasting impact on Marlborough.

Korean national Sung Ro Lee, known as Kevin Lee, was accused by a Korean couple of making false promises of lucrative vineyard work in Marlborough in return for a one-off payment of between $1000 and $2000.

The couple, in New Zealand on a working holiday visa, had responded to a leaflet at an agency for overseas workers, Southern View Corporation (SVC).

A Department of Labour investigation found Mr Lee, who now lives in Christchurch, and the corporation did not have an employment relationship with the complainants, therefore were not responsible for any issues of compliance.

But the complainants said word was spreading in Korea that workers in Marlborough could get ripped off.

Their story was printed in Korean newspapers and the couple were advising Koreans against travelling to Marlborough to work in the vineyards.

The investigation came after the couple approached The Marlborough Express in September last year claiming Mr Lee promised $12,000 for three months' vineyard work, but after paying $1600 up front, they earned only $1200 after 160 hours' work over several weeks. They claimed Mr Lee charged several hundred dollars for tools, accommodation and supplying paperwork for IRD numbers and tax returns, but did not provide enough work for the Koreans to earn the money back.

Mr Lee denied the allegations.

The Department of Labour's Nelson-Marlborough service manager, Annette Baxter, said the complaints had been "thoroughly investigated".

The couple went home late last year ago but maintained they were telling the truth and believed the Department of Labour had "just wanted to get it sorted as soon as possible". They said it would be difficult to get their money back as there was no record they had been employed by various contractors.

But Mr Lee said it was a case of misunderstanding.

He was pleased his name had been cleared but said the allegations had been "damaging".

"I've always thought I've done nothing wrong."

Mr Lee now works as a retail manager for a Christchurch dairy.

Ms Baxter said if the workers still had a grievance against Mr Lee or SVC they should seek legal advice on possible avenues for further action. But the couple said that was unlikely.

- The Marlborough Express

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