Migrants exploited

A Marlborough wine company and its owner have been ordered to pay more than $140,000 by the Employment Relations Authority, after failing to keep correct records for almost 200 employees.

During a surprise visit at Double Seven Services’ vineyards in 2016, the Labour Inspectorate found the company and owner Qin Zhang had failed to pay some employees minimum wages.

After completing a report on Double Seven’s records, and information from employees, the inspectorate found falsified entries.

In its investigation, the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) found Double Seven failed to keep wage and holiday pay records for 199 employees, failed to provide employment contracts to 104 employees, failed to pay minimum wages and holiday pay for 21 employees, and failed to pay at least 13 employees for working public holidays.

The authority said Double Seven exploited vulnerable migrant employees, who would have had little knowledge of their rights or little power to enforce them.

Double Seven also gave false information to the Labour Inspectorate.

Once it became clear the Labour Inspector was not going to be misled, the company and Zhang stopped assisting and engaging in the investigation, the ERA said.

Double Seven was fined $85,000, and Zhang $42,500 and a further $3000 in legal costs.

Double Seven was ordered to pay $7610 in wages and holiday pay to 21 employees, and $5065 for a premium charged to one employee but the authority said it was likely more employees may not have received minimum entitlements.