Teams from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), led by the Labour Inspectorate, have launched a sweeping compliance monitoring operation in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago.

Coinciding with the peak ski season activity, the four-day operation, codenamed Operation Fandango, is focused on ensuring that both employers and employees in the ski sector are aware of their rights and responsibilities under the law, MBIE said in a statement.

The majority of the businesses being visited will be in the hospitality and retail sectors but construction, cleaning and security businesses will also be under the spotlight.

“Our aim is to promote the fair treatment of workers - particularly those who may be vulnerable - by checking that employment and visa conditions are being met,” Labour Inspectorate’s head of compliance and enforcement Joanne Hacking said.

The operation was initiated following ongoing complaints and concerns about compliance with minimum employment standards in the Queenstown Lakes area.

The Labour Inspectorate is being supported by a team from Immigration New Zealand with joint visits planned throughout the operation. Accredited employers are required to meet a range of obligations above minimum employment rights and Immigration New Zealand may complete checks at any time during the accreditation period.

Besides Wānaka the teams will also be checking on businesses in Queenstown, Frankton, Glenorchy, Cromwell, and Alexandra.

Joanne said while identifying breaches of minimum employment standards is a key focus, educating employers and employees about their rights and responsibilities is also an important part of the operation.

“We also want to raise awareness of the Labour Inspectorate and the importance of complying with minimum employment entitlements,” she said.

“The operation will include compliance checks for businesses that may not have previously engaged with the Inspectorate, as well as follow-up visits to support ongoing compliance among employers who have had issues in the past.”

Operation Fandango follows a successful similar joint MBIE initiative led by the Inspectorate in the Queenstown area during the 2024 ski season.

Joanne said ski field and related sector employers need to understand that no matter whether employees are employed on a casual, part-time or fixed-term basis they all have minimum employment rights.

“This includes providing all workers with a written employment contract, paying them at least the minimum wage if they are 16 years or older, allowing them meal and rest breaks, and entitlements such as holiday pay, sick leave and public holiday pay.”

She stressed the importance of accurate record-keeping for time worked, payments, holidays and leave taken, and entitlements.

PHOTO: Wānaka App