Restaurant breached employment laws

CHRISTCHURCH: An Indian restaurant business has been found to owe seven former employees more than $41,000 in unpaid wages.

The Employment Relations Authority has found Indian Heaven, in Christchurch, breached employment standards, for not paying staff for the hours they worked, or holiday pay.

The restaurants, one in the suburb of Opawa and the other in Woodham Rd, Avonside, have been sold by Indian Heaven.

The employees said they worked about 50 hours per week over six days and one former employee said he worked seven days a week.

They were paid for 30 or 45 hours per week regardless of additional hours.

They said they were not given holiday pay during, or upon termination, of their employment or any public holiday pay.

When asked by the Labour inspector why employees were not paid correctly under the Holidays Act, Indian Heaven appeared unaware of the requirement to do so. The inspector said the wage and time records provided by Indian Heaven were inaccurate and appeared to have been created after his request.

When an employment notice was issued, the Labour Inspectorate said no attempt was made to comply and the business had continued to operate as before.

‘‘It was inevitable that these proceedings would eventually be brought in the Authority,’’ it said in the ERA’s determination.

It was ruled the $41,000 must be paid by Indian Heaven to the employees within 28 days of the date of this determination. One employee was owed nearly $18,000.

Director Najima Noori and joint shareholder Sayed Noori, along with their daughter, Fatima Noori, were all found to be involved in breaches of the employment standards. — RNZ