A kiwifruit labour supply company and its director have been fined $100,000 after underpaying three temporary visa workers over several years, Stuff has reported.
Asad Horticulture Limited, now in liquidation, was ordered to pay $70,000 for breaching minimum employment standards and failing to provide $40,000 in holiday pay. The company's sole director and shareholder, Mohammad Asaduzzaman, must also pay $30,000 for his role in the violations.
Labour Inspectorate Lead Kevin Finnegan described the breaches as “systemic,” noting significant issues with record-keeping and compliance.
“While it’s encouraging that Asaduzzaman and his company took responsibility, it’s disappointing that full payment of arrears took three years,” said Finnegan. “The Inspectorate’s persistence was key in achieving the right outcome for the complainants.”
An application for permanent non-publication orders was declined by the Employment Relations Authority, citing public interest.
“Conduct of this nature should not be shielded from public gaze by legal nicety,” Authority Member Andrew Dallas stated. “Asaduzzaman must take full, and untrammelled through publication, responsibility for a state of affairs of his own creation.”
Finnegan emphasised the Labour Inspectorate’s preference to support employers in maintaining compliance but said enforcement action is necessary when breaches occur.
“We appreciate the decision to decline non-publication orders as it aligns with our efforts to ensure fairness across the kiwifruit sector. We work closely with Zespri to maintain a supply chain free from non-compliant contractors and growers,” he said.
This case highlights the ongoing need for vigilance and accountability in protecting vulnerable workers in New Zealand’s horticulture industry.