Canterbury asparagus grower must pay nearly $ 50,000 in wages owed to workers

A Canterbury asparagus grower has been stung for nearly $ 50,000 by underpaid staff.

The Labor Relations Authority ordered Christopher Gray of Motukarara Asparagus to reimburse 13 pickers for illegal deductions, minimum wage arrears and vacation pay entitlements.

You must pay a total of $ 49,722.49 to former employees, 10 of whom were seasonal migrant workers, two other migrant workers, and one New Zealander.

The Labor Inspectorate found that some of the employees’ wages were calculated based on the amount of asparagus they collected at $ 2.50 per kilo.

Horticultural Inspector Kevin Finnegan said there was no system in place to make sure they were making at least minimum wage.

He said they also found that payment for things like airfare and lodging was being discounted without the workers’ consent and Gray had not paid them time and a half to work on holidays.

The Labor Inspectorate discovered the problems as part of a standard audit conducted at the end of the first year of being a Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE).

“If employees are earning piece rates that happen to be below the hourly minimum wage, they should be topped up to at least the minimum wage. Mr. Gray did not,” Finnegan said.