Operation Antic involves proactive, unannounced site visits focusing on nail salons and massage businesses in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatū-Whanganui, Taranaki, Wairarapa and Wellington regions. Visits will continue over the coming months.
The operation, which aims to protect vulnerable workers, particularly migrants, and ensure businesses are meeting minimum employment standards and immigration requirements, is being led by the Labour Inspectorate, supported by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
Wellington CBD
During October, the MBIE teams visited nail salons and other beauty sector businesses in the Wellington CBD and in the Hutt Valley, with some businesses in the Bay of Plenty having been visited earlier in the operation.
“The beauty sector has seen a rise in complaints and referrals, especially in the Waikato and Wellington areas,” said Margaret Meafua, Labour Inspectorate Compliance Manager for the Central region.
“We’re taking a proactive, intelligence-led approach to disrupt non-compliant practices and support businesses in doing the right thing.”
Ms Meafua said intelligence gathered during the operation will help MBIE build a clearer picture of compliance levels across the sector and inform future regulatory action.
“We expect that most businesses are doing or want to do the right thing but there are some concerns about possible links between some beauty industry businesses and organised criminal activity, including money laundering. Operation Antic is part of ongoing efforts by MBIE to support the disruption of organised criminality and serious non-compliance and prevent harm."
Fair treatment
“This is about ensuring fair treatment for workers and a level playing field for businesses doing the right thing,” she said.
During Operation Antic the Labour Inspectorate is assessing compliance with employment obligations such as employment agreements, recordkeeping, lawful deductions, and minimum entitlements.
Where breaches are identified, a range of enforcement tools may be used, including infringement and improvement notices, enforceable undertakings, and penalties through the Employment Relations Authority. Education and support will also be provided to help businesses understand their obligations.
“Operation Antic is taking an integrated approach across different regulatory areas within MBIE, with Labour Inspectorate teams supported by colleagues from Immigration NZ. Collaboration during operations like this is strengthening our collective response to organised crime and serious non-compliance,” said Ms Meafua.
“By working together, we can strengthen our response to organised crime and serious non-compliance.”
She said the MBIE teams were assessing the data collected during the Wellington visits and at this stage cannot provide details of issues of concern identified. “Our teams will have a clearer picture of areas where non-compliance most needs to be addressed once this data has been processed and analysed.”