| Restrictions | OK |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch |
| Reference No | [2016] NZERA Christchurch 134 |
| Hearing date | 16/08/2016 |
| Determination date | 18 August 2016 |
| Member | Peter van Keulen |
| Representation | E Tait; no appearance |
| Location | Blenheim |
| Parties | Labour Inspector v Uasi |
| Summary | PENALTY – Applicant sought penalties for failure to pay minimum wage, failure to keep wage and time records and failure to keep holiday and leave records – ARREARS OF WAGES – Applicant sought arrears of wages - COMPLIANCE ORDER – Applicant sought compliance with Improvement Notice – COSTS – Applicant sought contribution to costs |
| Abstract | AUTHORITY FOUND –PENALTY: Respondent breached provisions at hand. Respondent previously subject to Improvement Notice for similar failings. Breaches serious. Respondent aware of legal obligations and tried to conceal breaches. Failure to keep records potentially obscured further failure to pay minimum entitlements. Employees affected vulnerable. Little remorse shown. Need for deterrence. $7,500 penalty appropriate.ARREARS OF WAGES: Applicant’s evidence accepted. Respondent to pay $2,479 arrears of wages. Interest payable.COMPLIANCE ORDER: Respondent failed to comply with Improvement Notice. Compliance ordered. Interest payable.COSTS: Less than half day investigation meeting. Appropriate to apply notional daily tariff. Respondent to pay applicant $1,750 contribution to costs. |
| Result | Applications granted ; Orders made ; Penalty ($7,500)(payable to Crown) ; Arrears of wages ($2,479.49) ; Interest (5%) ; Costs in favour of applicant ($1,750) ; Disbursements in favour of applicant ($71.56)(filing fee) |
| Main Category | Penalty |
| Statutes | ERA s137(1)(a)(iii) ; ERA s223D ; ERA Second Schedule cl12 ; Minimum Wage Act s6 ; Minimum Wage Act s8A ; Holidays Act 1981 s81 ; Judicature Act 1908 |
| Cases Cited | Brown v Ford [2015] NZERA Wellington 112 ; Fagotti v Acme Ltd [2015] NZEmpC 135 ; Hixon v Summers [2015] NZERA Christchurch 188 ; Macrury v Cyprus Villas Ltd [2015] NZEmpC 157 ; PBO Ltd (formerly Rush Security Ltd) v Da Cruz [2005] ERNZ 808 (EmpC) ; Smith v Manku [2015] NZERA Wellington 83 ; Tan v Yang [2014] NZEmpC 65, [2014] ERNZ 733 ; Zonneveld v Le Fleming [2015] NZERA Christchurch 130 |
| Number of Pages | 8 |
| PDF File Link: | 2016_NZERA_Christchurch_134.pdf [pdf 113 KB] |