Kiwifruit businesses breach laws in Bay of Plenty

Enforcement action has been taken against eight employers in Bay of Plenty Kiwifruit industry. Photo / George Novack

The Government's employment watchdog has taken enforcement action against eight employers in the Bay of Plenty Kiwifruit industry following breaches of minimum employment standards.

The action follows an operation carried out last year by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), during which 29 businesses in the Opotiki area were visited by Ministry's Labour Inspectorate and Immigration New Zealand, together with Inland Revenue check their compliance with employment, immigration and tax laws.

The ministry's regional labour inspectorate Natalie Gardiner said eight improvement notices were issued after discovering 22 minimum employment standard breaches, including of the Employment Relations Act, the Holidays Act, the Minimum Wage Act and the Wages Protection Act.

Seven of the eight improvement notices have now been complied with and one was still being assessed, Mrs Gardiner said.

No illegal migrant workers have been located.

If the improvement notices are not complied with, enforcement can be sought through the Employment Relations Authority.

The level of non-compliance identified was disappointing but consistent with information and complaints received by the ministry prior to their operation, Mrs Gardiner said.

"The ministry takes these employment law breaches very seriously and is working proactively to crackdown on such activity through joint compliance operations targeting sectors and at risk workers across New Zealand," she said.

"We will not hesitate to take action for breaches of employment law. Breaches will be subject to compliance action and potentially penalties of up to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for companies."