Plaintiffs, witnesses and supporters, including barrister Brian Henry and Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust manager Liz Gregory, hold a press conference outside the Christchurch courts following the decision about women being found workers - not volunteers- being released. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
Former Gloriavale residents say they're sceptical about government plans to pass a law banning modern slavery, saying nothing has been done to stop the practice over decades at the West Coast Christian community.
A proposed law change will require companies making more than $20 million annually to publicly report on how they are minimising exploitation.
Last month six former Gloriavale women won a dramatic legal victory they say vindicates their claims of labour exploitation.
The Employment Court found that the women were employees at the community, contrary to the arguments from Gloriavale and the findings of the Labour Inspectorate.
The judge found that none of the plaintiffs were given a choice about whether they worked in the Gloriavale kitchen or laundry, that the decision was assigned at birth.
The judgement also found the work was - quote - "unrelenting, grinding, hard, and physically and psychologically demanding".
Gloriavale is appealing the decision.
Meanwhile the Christian community's leader Howard Temple has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual offending against girls over more than 20 years.
Kathryn speaks with former Gloriavale resident and one of the plaintiffs in the Employment Court case, Pearl Valour and the group's lawyer Brian Henry.
