Unemployed Asians battle 'lazy' stigma in silence

The stigma surrounding joblessness is deterring many Asian individuals from seeking financial assistance from the government during times of unemployment.

New Zealand's unemployment rate held steady at 5.1 percent in the March quarter, but Asian workers have been fearing the worst as the job market tightens.

As unemployment fears persist, losing a job isn't just about lost income - it also comes with shame.

In many cases, the community stigma of being out of work can stop them from seeking financial help.

A December 2024 report from the Ministry for Ethnic Communities found that just 32 percent of unemployed people in New Zealand received Jobseeker Support in 2021.

Among Asian individuals, the number was even lower - just 1 in 5 received unemployment benefits.

An Indian woman who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the stigma surrounding unemployment resigned from her role at an IT management firm in March, citing relentless work pressure and deteriorating health.

Although it was important to network when looking for employment in New Zealand, the Auckland-based woman confided in a solitary friend about being jobless, fearing that the deep-rooted stigma associated with unemployment in her community would only add to her stress.

"In India, there's an inferior feeling," she said. "What is the use of migrating to such a big country if you don't have a job?"

In some cases, she said it was easy to pick up on the assumptions that were being made about her.

"You know, people look at you with those eyes - 'Oh, you migrated to New Zealand and you're still struggling? You don't have a job?'"

The woman kept her unemployment a secret from Indian relatives in New Zealand, fearing she would also be judged.

"I have a family over here [in New Zealand]," she said. "The stigma I feel is an instant judgement that would come from them like: 'What happened? Why did you resign from your job? Why did you lose the job? Were you not working hard enough?'"

The woman experienced intense stress after resigning from her job, particularly since her bedridden mother in Mumbai relied on her for financial support.

Nevertheless, she was reluctant to apply for financial support from the government.

"[Indian individuals] look down on you," she said. "They say, 'You're dependent on the government to fulfill your expenses.'

"They judge you: 'Oh my God, you don't want to work. You're a lazy person, that's why you go to Work and Income and demand money from them. If you were a hardworking person, you wouldn't have lost your job or have been dependent on Work and Income.'"

The woman's husband, who declined to be named due to similar concerns, lost his job earlier in the year.

He shared the same sense of shame.

"At the moment, we haven't informed anyone that we're jobless," he said. "That's sad because if we tell someone that we're jobless, suddenly the behavior of the opposite person changes.

"Especially in our community, if we tell them that we don't have a job, their behaviors, their conversations, their body language becomes ... 'Oh, these people, they don't have a job. They might ask for money or some kind of favour. So better to stay away from them or to look down upon them.'

"We are highly qualified," he said. "We have around 15 to 16 years of professional experience. But unfortunately, we can't even open up to people from our own community."

The man said he applied for Jobseeker Support from Work and Income in May, driven by mounting financial pressures on his family.

Nevertheless, he still feared being judged by members of his community.

"Of course, people will judge you," he said. "That's the reason why we haven't told anyone about it. It's terrible. I'm hiding me and my wife."

He said changes were needed to foster greater inclusion and empathy towards people who were unemployed.

"[Unemployment] can happen to anyone," he said. "Stop looking down on people who don't have a job, it's not that they're doing it for fun. ... Instead of changing your behavior, help them."

Harmful misconceptions

Eva Chen, co-founder of the Wellbeing Charitable Trust, said the organization had been supporting unemployed migrants since 2020, with a particular focus on the Chinese community and Muslim youth.

Chen said the stigma surrounding unemployment was common in many Asian cultures, and multiple barriers often prevented migrants from applying for Jobseeker Support after losing their jobs.

"Asian migrants have a tradition of saving money," she said. "A lot of people believe they'll find a job before they run out of money. That's also why not many people go and apply for Jobseeker."

She said the media's inaccurate portrayals of beneficiaries had contributed to harmful misconceptions.

"You know how our media has been prototyping Jobseeker beneficiaries as lazy, not working hard or not actively looking for jobs," she said. "That's why when people need help, they don't want to be seen like that.

"And maybe some of them have been criticized or have [themselves] criticized those groups of people in the past, so they're hesitant or reluctant to step out of their comfort zone and seek help."

Chen called for greater empathy and outreach, saying cultural stigma often leaves unemployed immigrants suffering in silence.

"Most people receiving Jobseeker Support aren't receiving it permanently," she said. "They will try to apply for jobs. As soon as they find a job, they would just get out of the system and move onto a career pathway.

"There's no need to criticize them. Because you've never been in other people's shoes, [you] don't know what their story is."

She said government financial support should not be viewed as shameful when people are genuinely struggling and in need of help.

"Compared to your mental health and well-being, your family's well-being, and the stigma, I would suggest putting your family's well-being first," Chen said. "There's no shame in applying for Jobseeker Support. It helps families get through difficult times."

Angela Wilton, chief executive of Belong Aotearoa, said a lack of awareness about New Zealand's welfare system also contributed to the guilt many migrants felt about accessing government support.

"Many communities come from countries where there aren't social safety nets to fall back on," Wilton said. "It's something that's not necessarily the norm for some people."

She said migrants also faced multiple barriers when trying to navigate the welfare system.

"Accessing services is really difficult for many," she said. "It could be their English is limited, they're hesitant to approach a Work and Income office or even transport - getting to Work and Income might be tough. Maybe when they do get there, they feel dismissed or reluctant to express the difficulties they're facing."

Wilton said New Zealand should strengthen its social safety net to better reflect real needs and improve the visibility and accessibility of support services.

She said the public should be reminded that accessing support is a civic right, not a form of charity.

Jeet Suchdev, chairperson of the Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust, agreed.

Suchdev said the eligibility criteria for receiving support from the Ministry of Social Development were currently overly strict.

He said a more comprehensive support system should be established for unemployed individuals, including workshops and counselling services.

Suchdev also called for greater empathy to help break the stigma surrounding unemployment in the community.

"Awareness should be created," he said. "People can lose their job, but they shouldn't be neglected. They should not be treated as ... are worth nothing."

Services beyond financial assistance

According to the December 2024 report, the percentage of Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and African people receiving Jobseeker Support has remained stable since 2018 - despite an increase in the working-age population and the economic impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Graham Allpress, group general manager for client service delivery at the Ministry of Social Development, said Jobseeker Support was a weekly payment designed to assist people who were looking for work or were currently unable to work.

It included individuals engaged in part-time employment.

Allpress said the ministry provided a range of support services beyond financial assistance for those who have lost their jobs, including help connecting with employers, preparing for new roles and, in some cases, financial support to transition into work.

"Anyone who comes on to Jobseeker Support will come to our Kōrero Mahi seminars, which will set them up to look for a job, prepare for interviews and then get ready to start their new job," he said.

"We may also provide a dedicated employment case management service for clients that need more intensive support with their job search."

He said the ministry's services were available to a broader group than just those who were unemployed, and that anyone struggling to make ends meet was encouraged to reach out and explore the support they might be eligible for.