"Marlborough wine contractor to pay over $140,000 for exploiting migrant workers, failing to pay minimum wage", 9 January 2019

A Marlborough wine company and its owner have been ordered to pay more than $140,000 by the Employment Relations Authority, after failing to keep correct records for almost 200 employees.

During a surprise visit at Double Seven Services' vineyards in 2016, the Labour Inspectorate found the company and owner Qin Zhang​ had failed to pay some employees minimum wages....

In its investigation the Employment Relations Authority... found Double Seven had failed to keep wage and holiday pay records for 199 employees, failed to provide employment contracts to 104 employees, failed to pay minimum wages and holiday pay for 21 employees, and failed to pay at least 13 employees for working public holidays.

The authority said Double Seven exploited vulnerable migrant employees, employees who would have had little knowledge of their rights or little power to enforce their rights...