News and updates

Keep up to date with news from across Employment New Zealand.

01 March 2024

Get ready for Easter and Anzac Day

Any business opening over Easter or Anzac Day should be aware of their obligations as an employer. If their business is a 'shop', they should check the trading restrictions that may apply.

02 February 2024

Minimum wage is increasing on 1 April. Are you ready?

As a business owner or manager, you need to be ready for the minimum wage rates increase from 1 April 2024.

23 January 2024

Exploited migrant employee felt like a prisoner

A young migrant worker says she felt like a "prisoner" and regretted coming to New Zealand after being seriously exploited by her Central Otago employer for almost a year.

22 December 2023

90-day trial periods extended to include all employers

All employers in New Zealand, no matter their size, will be able to use 90-day trial periods, with effect from Saturday 23 December.

21 December 2023

New requirements for employers under the Worker Protection Act

The Worker Protection (Migrant and other Employees) Act 2023 comes into force on 6 January 2024. It strengthens immigration and employment laws to assist in protecting employees from exploitation.

20 December 2023

The repeal of Fair Pay Agreements legislation

The Fair Pay Agreements (FPA) Act has been repealed with effect from 20 December 2023. Your rights and obligations under other employment legislation still apply.

15 December 2023

Restaurant owners who exploited migrant workers must pay over $420,000

The former owners of 2 North Island restaurants who exploited migrant workers and breached numerous minimum employment standards must pay more than $330,000 in penalties, compensation and arrears.

29 November 2023

Restaurant owner penalised for unlawful wage deductions

A Rangiora restaurant and its owner who unlawfully deducted money from an employee’s wages and breached other minimum employment standards, must pay the employee over $40,000 in arrears and penalties.

27 November 2023

Hiring summer staff: Tips for employers

Over summer you may be expanding your workforce, whether it be with pickers and packers to help you on your orchard, or workers for your café or restaurant.

16 November 2023

85 Auckland businesses checked in exploitation crackdown

The Labour Inspectorate last week conducted a large-scale operation to identify potential migrant exploitation and check on minimum employment standards compliance at 85 businesses in Auckland.

Top