A liquor store in Papakura has paid more than $97,000 to four staff following a labour inspectorate investigation.
Photo: 123rf
The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) have also ordered Clevedon Road Liquor owned by SS & PK Jador Limited to pay penalties of $50,000 for breaching minimum employment standards.
In a statement, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said the store director, Satnam Singh Jador was also personally liable for $20,000 of penalties.
It said the $50,000 and $20,000 penalties resulted from a raft of failures including wage, holiday, leave and record-keeping breaches.
The company paid four employees $97,361.66 accepting that minimum wage, premium and holiday arrears were owed.
It was found that the employer had two sets of records: one with the actual number of hours worked, and another of hours worked as per the employment agreement.
MBIE said the ERA and the Labour Inspectorate agreed the case had the hallmarks of exploitation because of the vulnerable position of the workers regarding their immigration status.
Labour Inspectorate regional manager Loua Ward said these offences were a case of "blatant disregard for minimum employment standards".
"The majority of employers do the right thing and treat their workers well. However, we continue to see workers in the liquor industry who are not receiving a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. Cases of worker exploitation in New Zealand will not be tolerated."
MBIE's dedicated migrant exploitation team can be reached on 0800 20 00 88 from Monday to Friday, 8am to 5.30pm (excluding public holidays).
To report incidents, employees can call 0800 20 90 20.