Fifty-four current and former migrant workers at multiple sushi bars in Whangarei will be paid out over $70,000 of unpaid holiday pay, after the businesses failed to comply with employment laws.
The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment recovered a total of $71,454 of unpaid public holiday and holiday pay entitlements for 54 current and former employees at eight sushi bars in Whangarei.
A MBIE labour inspectorate, along with Inland Revenue, visited nine sushi bars in the area to check their compliance with employment and tax laws.
Eight businesses were found to be in serious breaches of employment laws including failing to keep time and wage records, provide employment agreements, pay minimum wages, holiday pay or public holiday entitlements.
All of the businesses visited employed migrant workers.