Enforcement action has been taken against eight employers in the kiwifruit sector in the Opotiki area of the Bay of Plenty following an operation carried out last year by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

The Ministry's Labour Inspectorate and Immigration New Zealand, together with Inland Revenue, visited 29 businesses including orchards, pack houses and administrative offices to check their compliance with employment, immigration and tax laws.

Eight kiwifruit industry employers were issued enforcement action notices last year.

Labour inspectorate regional manager Natalie Gardiner says MBIE issued eight Improvement Notices for 22 minimum employment standard breaches.

These included breaches for unlawful deduction, minimum wage breach, wage recording, time recording, no or inadequate employment agreement, holiday pay and public holiday entitlement.

Seven of eight improvement notices have now been complied with. One is still being assessed for compliance by the Inspector. There were no illegal migrant workers located.

The notices were issued to Danish Horticulture Ltd, Jeet Horticulture Ltd, Global Horticulture Ltd, Khan Horticulture Ltd, Susie Contracting, Ajay Enterprises Ltd, Aulack Enterprises Ltd and Wooton Trustees Ltd.

Natalie says: 'The level of non-compliance identified during this operation was disappointing but consistent with the information and complaints we had been receiving prior to our operation, particularly over a lack of time and wage recording which is required by law.

'These systemic failings appear to be the result of a lack of understanding of the importance of accurate record keeping, not only to meet legal requirements but also so employers can confirm they are providing their workers with their minimum employment entitlements.

'This failure was a major contributor to non-compliance.”

Natalie adds the Ministry takes these employment law breaches very seriously and is working proactively to crackdown on such activity through joint compliance operations targeting sectors and at risk workers across New Zealand.

'We will not hesitate to take action for breaches of employment law,” she says.

Breaches will be subject to compliance action and potentially penalties of up to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for companies.

'The Ministry encourages anyone in this situation, or who knows of anyone in this situation, to call its contact centre on: 0800 20 90 20, where their concerns will be handled in a safe environment,” says Natalie.