27 Jul 2017

Fish company fined over 5000 unrecorded work hours

8:48 pm on 27 July 2017

A Japanese fishing company has been fined over $122,000 for failing to properly pay their workers while in New Zealand waters.

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Generic file photo. Photo: 123RF

The Ministry of Primary Industries noted the crew members were working significantly longer than what was being recorded.

The Japanese boat spent just 50 days in New Zealand waters between April and June in 2015 and during that time over 5000 of the workers' hours went unrecorded.

A Labour inspectorate investigation found 16 Indonesian employees were on average paid only half of the hours they worked, and the company Ikeda Suisan failed to keep accurate time and wage records.

The same breaches did not extend to the six Japanese officers on board.

A portion of the fine, over $80,000, will be paid to the employees.

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