Labour-hire firm to pay out $6781 over sacking

A Kaitaia labour-hire company has been ordered to pay a former worker $6781 for hurt, distress and lost wages after he was unjustifiably dismissed.

The Employment Relations Authority has ordered Allied Work Force Far North to pay the money to Jim Yukich.

Adjudicator Alastair Dumbleton ruled that Allied unjustifiably dismissed Mr Yukich in September 2006.

Mr Yukich was performing manual work at the Juken NZ sawmill in Kaitaia.

Allied claimed Mr Yukich was not dismissed as he had no contractual entitlement to ongoing employment after the completion of the assigned work at Juken.

It said Mr Yukich was a casual worker, but the adjudicator disagreed, saying the work was not for a fixed period but continuous.

- NZPA