Get ready for Easter and Anzac Day
Any business opening over Easter or Anzac Day should be aware of their obligations as an employer. If their business is a 'shop', they should check the trading restrictions that may apply.
Minimum wage is increasing on 1 April. Are you ready?
As a business owner or manager, you need to be ready for the minimum wage rates increase from 1 April 2024.
Exploited migrant employee felt like a prisoner
A young migrant worker says she felt like a "prisoner" and regretted coming to New Zealand after being seriously exploited by her Central Otago employer for almost a year.
90-day trial periods extended to include all employers
All employers in New Zealand, no matter their size, will be able to use 90-day trial periods, with effect from Saturday 23 December.
New requirements for employers under the Worker Protection Act
The Worker Protection (Migrant and other Employees) Act 2023 comes into force on 6 January 2024. It strengthens immigration and employment laws to assist in protecting employees from exploitation.
The repeal of Fair Pay Agreements legislation
The Fair Pay Agreements (FPA) Act has been repealed with effect from 20 December 2023. Your rights and obligations under other employment legislation still apply.
Restaurant owners who exploited migrant workers must pay over $420,000
The former owners of 2 North Island restaurants who exploited migrant workers and breached numerous minimum employment standards must pay more than $330,000 in penalties, compensation and arrears.
Restaurant owner penalised for unlawful wage deductions
A Rangiora restaurant and its owner who unlawfully deducted money from an employee’s wages and breached other minimum employment standards, must pay the employee over $40,000 in arrears and penalties.
Hiring summer staff: Tips for employers
Over summer you may be expanding your workforce, whether it be with pickers and packers to help you on your orchard, or workers for your café or restaurant.
85 Auckland businesses checked in exploitation crackdown
The Labour Inspectorate last week conducted a large-scale operation to identify potential migrant exploitation and check on minimum employment standards compliance at 85 businesses in Auckland.