Transporting New Zealand was recently contacted by MBIE, advising that some road freight companies aren’t complying with employment standards. This includes not paying minimum wage, ensuring adequate rest breaks, or keeping records of employee’s pay and working hours.

We know that protecting their staff and businesses is priority for our members, so we arranged an interview with the head of the Labour Inspectorate to explain how to ensure compliance:

Supporting resources for Transporting New Zealand members

  • Employment agreements: All employees require a written, up to date, employment agreement. Transporting New Zealand members qualify for a 20% discount for Employment Agreement templates through Employers Assistance, a free initial consultation from Gibson Sheat and Wynn Williams Lawyers, or MBIE’s Employment Agreement Builder is completely free.
  • Rest and meal breaks: All employees must be allowed rest and meal breaks (paid and unpaid) that comply with the Employment Relations Act and the Land Transport Rule Work Time and Logbooks 2007 (NZTA FAQ available here).
  • Employment records: Accurate records must be kept of employees’ time worked, payments made, holidays and leave taken and entitlements.
  • Other flagged issues: The Labour Inspectorate has also highlighted the following forbidden practices: deducting money without the employee’s permission; asking them to pay a premium for hiring them or prior to hiring them; demanding to keep their passport; making an employee do a 90-day trial period unless this has been agreed to in the employment agreement prior to starting work; and asking an employee to deviate from their visa conditions or work while they do not have a valid visa.

Members with any employment relations queries can also contact info@transporting.nz or call our office at 04 472 3877, to be put in touch with one of our regional advisors or external referrals. MBIE also has short refresher modules available to employers here.

We have also noted to MBIE that the vast majority of our members and the wider road freight industry are responsible and compliant employers.