Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 195/10
Hearing date 7 Oct 2010
Determination date 14 October 2010
Member M B Loftus
Representation B Scoble ; no appearance
Location Christchurch
Parties Natsume v Valley of the Kings Ltd
Summary ARREARS OF WAGES – JURISDICTION – No appearance for respondent – Applicant sought $3,248 unpaid wages – Applicant provided tax number to respondent director (“K”) but K did not appear to record number – Applicant paid in cash for shifts – Applicant informed by colleague was being underpaid – Applicant raised issue with K and subsequently with Department of Labour – K claimed applicant employed as trainee and therefore not entitled to minimum wage – Authority found applicant employee – Found unbelievable respondent would leave trainee in sole charge of retail food outlet – Found applicant paid throughout and undermined credibility of respondent’s claim – Found advertisements undermined respondent’s claim sought trainee – Found K treated applicant as ungrateful employee when issue about underpayment raised – Found wages due and owing – Interest payable – COSTS – Applicant sought reimbursement of travel expenses – Found applicant travelled from Blenheim for investigation meeting – Applicant claimed costs of obtaining visa extension – Found investigation meeting delayed due to K’s incarceration – $1,073 costs reasonable
Result Application granted ; Arrears of wages ($3,248.77) ; Interest (5.19%) ; Costs in favour of applicant ($1,073.25) ; Disbursements in favour of applicant ($70)(filing fee)
Main Category Arrears
Statutes Holidays Act 2003;Minimum Wages Act 1983
Number of Pages 9
PDF File Link: ca 195_10.pdf [pdf 29 KB]