The Employment Court has issued Declarations of Breach against three Christchurch hospitality companies, and a banning
order against the companies’ director, after a case brought by the Labour Inspectorate in respect of eight employees.
In a judgement dated 9 June 2021, Jeet Holdings Ltd, Jeet Holdings No.2 (in liquidation) and Jeet Holdings No.6 (in
liquidation), previously trading as Coriander’s Ethnic Indian Restaurant, were found to have seriously breached the
Minimum Wage Act 1983 (and the Wages Protection Act 1983 in respect of Jeet No.6), between 2007 and 2018, by not paying
employees statutory entitlements they were owed and failing to keep accurate time and wage records. The Coriander’s
restaurants previously run by these companies have been sold with new owners continuing with the trading name.
The eight employees were routinely instructed to show in their timesheets less hours worked than they had actually
worked. That meant the wage and time records were unreliable because of a premeditated, systematic, method of
underpayment over several years.
A banning order has been issued against the companies’ director and shareholder, Amar Deep Singh, preventing him from
entering into an employment agreement as an employer, being an officer of an employer or being involved in the hiring or
employment of employees for two years. This is the third banning order successfully sought by the Labour Inspectorate
against company directors.
The Court found that Singh acted with callousness and disregard for the welfare of the employees. He instructed them to
complete false timesheets and, when detection was likely, came up with a plan to attempt to cover up what was going on
and derail the Inspector’s investigation. Singh left New Zealand in January 2019 and did not return for the Employment
Court hearing.
Jeanie Borsboom, Regional Manager Southern, Labour Inspectorate, says the finding serves as a strong deterrent of this
completely unacceptable conduct.
“Employment New Zealand provides free education and resources on employment rights, and works with industries and
businesses to lift compliance. However, those who deliberately continue to deprive workers of their minimum employment
rights, should not be employers.”
Jeet Holdings Limited was ordered to pay penalties of $57,600, while penalties of $14,400 and $123,200 were imposed
against Jeet Holdings No.2 and Jeet Holdings No.6 Ltd, respectively. Amar Deep Singh was ordered to pay penalties of
$112,800.
Compensation Orders were issued against Jeet Holdings Limited ($165,042.26), Jeet Holdings No.2 ($30,293) and Jeet
Holdings No.6 ($76,492.54), requiring each company to pay these amounts to the employees.
Anyone concerned about the employment situation of themselves or someone they know is advised to call our contact centre
on 0800 20 90 20, where their concerns will be handled in a safe environment.