Employer did not properly pay staff minimum wage, made deductions without written consent
An employer in New Zealand has been ordered to pay $147,000 in gross arrears after failing to pay five former workers their minimum wage and holiday pay.
The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) issued the order after finding that the employer committed multiple breaches under the Minimum Wage Act 1983, Employment Relations Act 2000, Holidays Act 2003, and the Wages Protection Act 1983.
Some of the violations cited by the ERA include not paying employees their minimum wage for all hours worked, not paying their worked hours during holidays, and failing to pay their final holiday pay correctly.
The employer also made deductions from employees' wages, such as rent and loans, without their written consent, according to the ERA.
One employee of the organisation was not paid a total of $78,579.70, including $48,961.24 in unpaid minimum wage and $9,794.86 in holiday pay.
Another employee was also not paid a total of $26,265.16, including $10,204.56 in minimum wage and $9,297.98 in holiday pay, according to the ERA.
The three other workers were also owed between $7,000 and $19,000 in unpaid wages.
The employer did not accept the extent of the hours claimed by the employees who worked in Auckland, the ERA noted.
"However, they have agreed to pay the full amount claimed in good faith and accepting the Authority's ability… to accept the employees' claim as proved when insufficient wage and time...
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