News

854 complaints from hotel workers received

May 16, 2018 1:43 am

A total of 854 complaints from hotel workers were received by the Employment Ministry from 2015 to 2018.

Minister Jone Usamate says the complaints were handled by the Ministry’s Standard and Compliance Unit.

Usamate says the unit carried out investigations and led to the recovery of more than $45,000 that needs to be given to workers.

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“Over that three-year period, it’s more than $48,000 and this money is then transferred to the account of workers through electronic fund transfers. Five percent of the payments are done through cheques but most of the money has been deposited directed into their accounts.”

Usamate says some cases are serious and are being transferred to the Employment Relations Tribunal where decisions are being made that employers need to comply with.

A total of 1,600 inspections were done by the ministry in hotels in the last three years.