The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment reminded employers about their obligations to keep accurate employment records and produce them when requested by a labour inspector or face enforcement action and penalties. The Ministry’s labour inspectorate resolved 332 cases with breaches in time and wage or leave records in 2014. Of those cases, 130 were in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 83 in accommodation and food services and 38 in retail trade. “Accurate time, wage and leave re
cordkeeping is not just a legal requirement. It’s necessary for employers to know what their workers are doing, what they are being paid and to ensure the business runs efficiently. It’s the only way employers can show they’re providing workers with their minimum entitlements such as wage and holiday pay,” says George Mason, labour inspectorate general manager.
The Employment Relations Act and the Holidays Act also require employers to retain employment records and produce them upon request by a labour inspector.
“A number of recent cases investigated by the inspectorate show that some employers still fail to meet these basic obligations and are faced with the consequences,” says Mason.
“The Labour Inspectorate takes breaches of employment law very seriously. These 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.”
