Telco still hasn't paid compensation to worker

10:24 am on 30 December 2015

An Auckland telecommunications company found guilty of grossly underpaying one of its Chinese workers still has not paid the compensation it was ordered to pay.

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Two months after he was awarded more than $30,000, the worker has still not received any money Photo: 123rf.com

In an investigation earlier this year, the Employment Relations Authority found Utel Telecom Group had paid Tao Gu less than the minimum wage, and not at all for the final three months of his employment.

When Mr Gu, who was hired as an assistant and was on a student visa, raised concerns with the company, it threatened to have him deported.

The authority found Utel showed no remorse and ordered the company to pay Mr Gu more than $30,000 in lost wages and compensation, and also fined it $20,000.

Two months on, he has not been paid, so the Authority has given Utel a 28-day deadline, and told it to sharpen up its act or face further court action.