Employers beware of non-compliance with minimum employment standards.
Around 70 New Zealand business have been banned from hiring migrant workers after being found to have been in breach of minimum employment standards. Yesterday Stuff.co.nz/Fairfax Media NZ released an article on the topic.
Interestingly, the businesses were banned from employing migrant workers for up to two years. The ban reflects a recent law change that came into force from 1 April 2017, after the Minister of Immigration made an addition to existing immigration instructions. Many of the 70 odd businesses that were penalised also received fines and financial penalties for the breaches, which included failing to provide employees with employment contracts, underpaying staff and breaching the Holiday Act.
Employers caught by the ban will be placed on a list of “non-compliant employers”. The list will be maintained by the Labour Inspectorate and shared with Immigration New Zealand to ensure the non-complaint businesses are unable to continue to employ migrant workers.
Does your business employ migrant workers? Concerned this could affect your business and its operational needs?
Obtain advice from BuckettLaw, the employment law experts, to ensure your business is fully compliant with minimum employment standards. We can help your business stay on the right side of the law.
If your business is affected by the issues contained within this article, or requires a full 360-review of the businesses’ employment contracts and payroll processes, get in touch with BuckettLaw right away to ensure compliance.
Phone: 04 472 8600
Email: matt@buckettlaw.co.nz
(Riew the full Stuff article here)
Matt Belesky
Employment Lawyer
BuckettLaw, Wellington
This article, and any information contained on our website is necessarily brief and general in nature, and should not be substituted for specific professional advice on any matter and should not be relied upon for that purpose. You should always seek professional advice before taking any action in relation to the matters addressed.
