Napier bakery pays $14,423 for employment law failures

Media release

3 November 2016

Napier bakery pays $14,423 for employment law failures

The Brown Owl Bakery in Napier has paid penalties and arrears of $14,423 after being caught breaching multiple employment laws by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Labour Inspectorate, including failing to pay minimum wage or keep employment records.

“The Inspectorate takes all employment law breaches very seriously, regardless of the size of the business,” says Labour Inspectorate Regional Manager Loua Ward.

“Every employee working in New Zealand should receive at least their minimum employment entitlements like minimum wage – it’s a basic right.”

Following the Labour Inspectorate’s investigation, Kosal Eang and Ravi Chay of Brown Owl Bakery paid $8783 in minimum wage arrears to two employees, and $5640 in penalties imposed by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).

“The Inspectorate is currently visiting a range of businesses across the retail sector, and smaller employers like bakeries should be prepared for a visit,” says Mrs Ward.

“If we find an employer failing to meet employment law basics such as keeping records or paying minimum wage, the Inspectorate will take enforcement action against them.”

You can read the full ERA decision online.

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.

For more information on keeping accurate records, visit employment.govt.nz.

[ENDS]

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