A Napier restaurant owner has been fined $30,000 for making employees work long hours for seven days a week without any breaks. The ERA has ordered Golden Spring Takeaway, owned by Huichan Xu, for breaching minimum employment standards for two migrant employees.
“The Labour Inspectorate investigation found that Golden Spring Takeaway breached 10 standards including failing to retain copies of the individual employment agreements, failing to keep a wage and time records, and failing to keep holiday and leave records as required by law,” said Labour Inspectorate National Manager Stu Lumsden.
“The employees worked long hours, seven days a week with no days off for a period of over six months. Initially Ms Xu denied that the pair were employed by her and also providing the Inspectorate with manufactured records developed once the investigation had begun.
"This is a reminder that migrant workers are a particularly vulnerable section of the workforce, as they’re less likely to be aware of their rights and entitlements and can be concerned regarding their visa status.”
