Mental wellbeing at work – toolkit launched
Source: Employment New Zealand On 10th of October, World Mental Health Day, the Mental Health Foundation and Health Promotion Agency launched a toolkit to support workplaces to boost wellbeing and create flourishing teams. The Five Ways to Wellbeing at Work Toolkit offers practical information, resources and know-how to make it easy for workplaces to support […]
Read More →Minimum wage to rise to $15.25
Source: Employment New Zealand The Government announced today the adult minimum wage will go up by 50 cents to $15.25 an hour on 1 April 2016. The current adult minimum wage rate is $14.75 an hour. The starting-out and training hourly minimum wages rates will increase from $11.80 to $12.20 per hour, remaining at 80 […]
Read More →Christchurch dairy and owner to pay more than $40,000 for worker exploitation
Source: Employment New Zealand The owner of a Christchurch dairy will spend the next three months paying back an exploited migrant worker more than $26,000 in unpaid employment entitlements. The owner of a Christchurch dairy will spend the next three months paying back an exploited migrant worker more than $26,000 in unpaid employment entitlements. Symrose’s […]
Read More →Employer Advice Line for disability and health-related questions
Source: Employment New Zealand Free service helps employers manage and support staff with disabilities or health conditions. The Employer Advice Line, 0800 805 405, means employers can ask any questions they might have about how best to manage and support new or existing employees with health conditions or disabilities. Most disabled people and people with […]
Read More →New tools designed to make life easier for employers and employees
Source: Employment New Zealand Two new online tools have just been launched, designed to make life easier for employers and employees. The first is a tool to help New Zealand retailers determine whether or not they’re allowed to trade on restricted shop trading days. There are three and a half days when almost all shops […]
Read More →Minimum wage to increase by 50 cents to $15.75
Source: Employment New Zealand The Government announced on 24 January 2017 that the minimum wage will increase by 50 cents to $15.75 on 1 April 2017. The starting-out and training minimum wage rates will increase from $12.20 to $12.60 per hour – remaining at 80 per cent of the adult minimum wage. For more information, […]
Read More →SmartStart: The best start for parents and babies
Source: Employment New Zealand The eagerly anticipated online tool for new and expectant parents is now available. Now there’s one place to go for step-by-step information to help you and your baby get off to the best start. SmartStart provides users with integrated information about services provided by a range of agencies and NGOs. Parents […]
Read More →Indian clothing retailers ordered to pay $60,000 for intimidating ex-employees
Source: Employment New Zealand The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) has ordered three owner-operators of Indian clothing stores in Auckland to pay $60,000 for intimidating two of their previous employees. The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) has ordered three owner-operators of Auckland Indian clothing retailers Khoobsurat Collections/Naari Collections Ltd to pay $60,000 for intimidating two of their […]
Read More →Government announces amendments to the Employment Relations Act
Source: Employment New Zealand Today the Government announced a new Bill that will amend the Employment Relations Act 2000. The key amendments include: Restoring statutory rest and meal breaks Limiting 90 day trials to employers with fewer than 20 employees Restoring reinstatement as the primary remedy to unfair dismissal Increasing protections for vulnerable workers such […]
Read More →Canterbury bakers ordered to pay $115,000 for worker exploitation
Source: Employment New Zealand A Canterbury bakery, its director and his wife have been ordered to pay over $115,000 plus interest, including $75,000 in wage arrears, for seriously exploiting and underpaying two migrant employees. La Wheat Limited, director Wannakawattawaduge Janaka Sujeewa Fernando and Arumadura Udeni Lakmali Fernando have been penalised at the Employment Relations Authority […]
Read More →Business owners to personally pay for breaching employment standards
Source: Employment New Zealand Two Employment Relations Authority (ERA) determinations have sent a strong message that both businesses and owners can be significantly penalised for breaching multiple employment standards. The ERA has ordered Napier restaurant Golden Spring Takeaway, owned by Huichan Xu as a sole trader, to pay $30,000 for breaching minimum employment standards for […]
Read More →Long-standing pub owners fined $30,000 for treating employees as casuals
Source: Employment New Zealand Two Canterbury tavern owners have been ordered to pay $30,000 by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) for 30 breaches of the Holidays Act Two Canterbury tavern owners have been ordered to pay $30,000 by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) for 30 breaches of the Holidays Act. Malcolm and Claire Bennett, owners […]
Read More →Wineries told to check supply chains in wake of second worker exploitation case
Source: Employment New Zealand The Labour Inspectorate is calling on the viticulture industry to thoroughly check their supply chains to prevent wine being produced by exploited labour. Marlborough vineyard contracting company Double Seven Services and its owner have been collectively penalised $127,500 by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) for falsifying and failing to keep wage […]
Read More →Forestry Shake-up as company penalised $35,000 and prevented from hiring migrants
Source: Employment New Zealand A large forestry company has been penalised $35,000 at the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) for paying migrant employees less than the minimum wage Silverculture Solutions Ltd (SSL), an associated company of CNI Forest Management Limited and a supplier of Silviculture services to Timberlands, employs up to 250 staff in forest block […]
Read More →No holiday break for employment standards
Source: Employment New Zealand Employment Services is reminding businesses over the holiday season to keep employment standards up to scratch and be mindful of their supply chains to avoid the risk of a bad reputation. “It’s the time of year when many people are working in hospitality, retail, casual and seasonal work, often working varied […]
Read More →Exploitation of single worker results in $188,500 to be paid
Source: Employment New Zealand A Christchurch suburban dairy and its owners have been ordered to pay $85,000 in penalties for exploiting and underpaying a staff member by more than $103,000 over a four-year period. Indy Supa, a dairy in the Christchurch suburb of Shirley has been ordered by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) to pay […]
Read More →Restaurant owner shows “no real remorse” for employment breaches
Source: Employment New Zealand Rotorua company, Vishnu Hospitality Limited, which trades as Lovely India restaurant has been ordered to pay $10,000 for failing to keep accurate employment records. The breach includes subsequently failing to provide those records when requested by the Labour Inspectorate. The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) found that company director Nilin Patel’s cooperation with […]
Read More →Mental Health Awareness Week (8–14 October)
Source: Employment New Zealand Let nature into your workplace – Tukua te uho taiao ki roto nā papa mahi. People who feel their employer cares about their wellbeing are more engaged at work. This Mental Health Awareness Week (8–14 October 2018), show people you care about their mental health and wellbeing and ‘Let nature into […]
Read More →Man must pay for former company’s labour exploitation
Source: Employment New Zealand A man who liquidated his company after being penalised nearly $430,000 for exploiting workers, has been made personally liable for the nearly $120,000 that’s still outstanding. The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) has ‘joined’ Jujhar Singh to his previous company Binde Enterprises Ltd, following a Labour Inspectorate investigation which uncovered nearly $210,000 […]
Read More →Japanese fishing company to pay 180k for exploitation of workers in NZ waters
Source: Employment New Zealand A Japanese fishing company chartered by a New Zealand business has been ordered to pay more than $180,000 in arrears and penalties for serious employment breaches. A Japanese fishing company chartered by a New Zealand business has been ordered to pay more than $180,000 in arrears and penalties following a Labour […]
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