A Fijian national was told by his New Zealand employer he would be sent back to his country if he asked for his wages and payslips, the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) has been told.
Vinendra Mani complained to the authority that he was owed more than $3800 in
outstanding wages and holiday pay from Kendall Earthmoving Ltd, of Auckland.
Mr Mani said he was offered a job by the company in March last year and on the strength of that, signed an employment agreement and gained a permit to enter New Zealand.
He was to work as a heavy machinery operator and paid weekly at $16 an hour.
Mr Mani said it turned out his hours were irregular and he was paid only twice. At the end of July the company said he could seek work elsewhere but called him back for an extra two weeks' work in September.
He said he repeatedly asked for his wages and copies of payslips, but was paid only $613 of about $4000 wages owed to him.
Mr Mani told the ERA his employer threatened "to send me back to my country if I ask for wages and payslips".
The company's director, Paul Kendall, did not attend the ERA hearing, but sent a fax advising he had petitioned for bankruptcy and was now working for another company.
The ERA said the firm was still registered and was not in liquidation on January 23.
The ERA said Mr Mani was entitled to the wages he claimed, plus holiday pay and interest. It ordered Kendalls to pay him $4030.
- NZPA
