A company operating two franchised Domino’s Pizza stores has been barred from hiring additional migrant workers for 12 months after authorities found it employed a worker in breach of visa conditions.
The business, GBN Trading Limited, was fined $3000 and ordered to pay a further $1500 in prosecution costs, in a case focusing on employers failing to follow immigration and labour rules designed to protect the integrity of the workforce.
Immigration investigations national manager Jason Perry said the worker’s visa conditions only permitted them to carry out administration duties at Domino’s Pizza, Pukekohe, in Auckland. However, the investigation found the employee had been working at Domino’s Pizza in Pokeno, in the Waikato region, which was outside the scope of their visa conditions.
“The employer knowingly employed someone in a way that did not meet the conditions specified on their work visa, and now they must face the consequences,” Perry said.
“This shows that immigration breaches are taken seriously.”
“Employers must follow their obligations, and if they don’t, our immigration infringement scheme has proven to be an effective tool in holding them to account.”
The infringement scheme had been in place for two years, during which more than 300 infringement notices were issued, totalling around $1 million in penalties.
The agency also warned that more serious breaches of visa and employment rules could result in criminal charges, highlighting a tougher approach to making sure employers stick to immigration and labour laws.