A total of 240 workers at the Alliance Group's Pukeuri freezing works near Oamaru were temporarily laid off on August 8, but Work and Income New Zealand (Winz) is already aware of six North Otago families who were unable to claim benefit allowances.
Southern region commissioner for social development John Allen said the Social Security Act (1964) stated that financial assistance from Winz could be paid only to people who had residency, but affected families could seek advice from organisations such as the Waitaki Multicultural Council's migrant support programme and Immigration New Zealand's Settlement Support.
''Work and Income has met with representatives from Alliance and Migrant Support to see what support can be provided to assist the approximately six families from overseas who are affected by the layoffs at Alliance.''
Both the Waitaki Multicultural Council and the Oamaru Food Bank have stepped in to help ease the financial burden faced by the overseas workers.
The multicultural council's migrant support co-ordinator, Jojan McLeod, said she had already had two inquiries from workers who were laid off from the plant and were looking for other employment.
She said they were desperate for any kind of employment because Winz could not help. She had been investigating what opportunities were available for the workers, but said efforts were also being made to identify how many workers needed help.
''Not all of them have come forward.''
Mrs McLeod said the Oamaru Food Bank had been able to help some people but it would also be necessary to talk to schools, once families had been identified, to help families if they wanted that.
''Hopefully, we can ease the food and the accommodation by talking to rental agencies and landlords.''
Alliance's processing general manager, Kerry Stevens, said nine employees on work visas were affected and management was maintaining contact with them ''to ensure they are managing OK''.
North Otago Federated Farmers meat and fibre spokesman Ross Ewing said the company had a moral obligation to look after all the workers who had lost employment.
''My concern is these guys are their prime workers and that, as an industry, we can't afford to lose more guys out of it.''
