NZ kiwi company files for bankruptcy still owing $200k to workers
Freemind Enterprize Limited and its director Gurmail Lally were, in June last year, ordered by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) to pay $161,343.67 for money owed to workers and $65,000 in penalties for breaching employment law.
This followed a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) investigation that revealed the company did not have written employment agreements, wage, time or holiday records for 121 employees that were hired to harvest kiwifruit in the Bay of Plenty between 2009 and 2013.
MBIE's Labour Inspectorate general manager George Mason said there had been no further payment above the $28,000 following the sale of a house he owned.
"Following further pursuit of the outstanding arrears by MBIE's legal team ... [Lally] has put himself into voluntary bankruptcy.
"As a bankrupt, Mr Lally cannot be the director of a limited liability company, or take part in the management or control of any business without the permission of the Official Assignee."
Read more at nzherald.co.nz
