Operation Orzo finds visa breaches at Whangārei cafes and bars

Immigration investigators joined the Labour Inspectorate during several visits to hospitality venues in Whangārei. They found three employers had migrant workers on the books without valid or correct visas. Photo / 123rf

Three Whangārei hospitality employers will be issued infringement notices after hiring migrant workers without valid or correct visas.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said its Labour Inspectorate recently began an intensive compliance operation in the Whangārei district, visiting 29 businesses.

David Milne, the inspectorate’s compliance manager for the northern region, said the two-day operation was part of the wider Operation Orzo, which began earlier this year in the Bay of Islands.

More than 50 retail and hospitality businesses were visited unannounced, and inspectors interviewed nearly 100 workers about their employment conditions.

Milne said cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants in Whangārei were visited, sometimes with immigration investigators present too.

Inspectors focused on compliance with the Employment Relations Act, the Holidays Act, the Minimum Wage Act and the Wages Protection Act, Milne said.

The immigration team found three employers who hired migrant workers without valid or correct visas, and they would be issued infringement notices.

Another person was issued a Deportation Liability Notice for breaching their visa conditions.

Milne said Operation Orzo was about raising awareness and monitoring whether businesses were meeting their obligations.

“Education is an important part of what we do, and where breaches are found to be minor and unintentional, our inspectors are happy to work with employers and employees to educate or resolve complaints or other issues.”

However, enforcement options would be considered for clear breaches of minimum employment standards.

Because data was being assessed, it was too early to provide further updates on potential breaches, he said.

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.