Payroll system specifically developed for orchards
Historically payroll software was written for commercial businesses where everything was relatively stock standard.
A Stratford farmer is to pay a former worker wage arrears after the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Labour Inspectorate identified breaches of minimum employment rights.
The case follows Labour Inspectorate action in the dairy sector focussing on employer maintenance of accurate time and wage records.
The Labour Inspectorate found the worker's pay was averaged across seasons and didn't meet the minimum wage rate.
The worker was employed as a farm assistant between 2 November 2010 and 19 October 2012 and towards the end of his employment lodged a complaint with the ministry regarding his rate of pay.
He was paid a salary of $30,000 per annum, which rose to $32,000 per annum in April 2012, and was required to work 49-60 hours a week. His hours would drop to 38-44 hours a week in the dry season.
After an investigation by the Labour Inspectorate identified breaches of the Minimum Wage Act, a demand notice to repay $6473.77 in arrears was issued to the farmer.
The farmer then filed an objection with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) on the basis weekly wages paid under the minimum wage should be offset against wages paid during the dry season.
In a determination released this week the ERA found that payment by way of salary cannot be used as a mechanism to avoid paying minimum wage and the arrears are to be repaid.
Labour Inspectorate general manager George Mason says any practice of seasonal averaging in the agriculture sector is not lawful.
"Averaging out pay across a season, especially for those earning low salaries, is likely to breach the minimum wage rates set in legislation," says Mr Mason.
"It will also likely breach requirements for paid holidays, including public holidays and special leave.
"Employees should be receiving at least the minimum wage for the hours, days and weeks actually worked and employers must maintain accurate time and wage records to ensure that this occurs"
The Labour Inspectorate takes any breaches of minimum employment rights seriously, with non-compliance attracting fines of up to $10,000 for an individual and $20,000 for a company.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.
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