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News
Back to the news list New Zealand organic farm fined $45,000
22 June 2018 - Media Release - Fresh Plaza
Robinwood Farms, an organic farm near Christchurch, NZ, has been ordered to pay more than $45,000 for exploiting workers it claimed were volunteers. Owner and director Julia Osselton was found to have breached the rights of workers in a bid to avoid legal obligations.

The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) found that Miss Osselton operated under the guise of providing a volunteer experience called 'WWOOFing'; an acronym for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.

The Labour Inspectorate says other businesses making use of volunteer workers should take note of the cases, as staff have a right to be paid for all the work they do.

"The ERA agreed with the Inspectorate this was a clear and unequivocal case of worker exploitation which the employer attempted to hide under the guise of providing a 'WWOOFing' experience," said Labour Inspectorate regional manager David Milne."

The ERA imposed a $45,900 penalty on Robinwood Farms to be shared between the Crown and the two workers who had been witnesses in the case taken by the Inspectorate, to set a strong deterrent for any other businesses engaging in what it called an 'intolerable situation'.It was the second such award made by the ERA against one of Ms Osselton's businesses for her use of volunteers.

According to scoop.co.nz, Milne warned other businesses which make use of volunteer workers to take note of the cases: "Wherever a worker is being rewarded in a business at whatever level, the Labour Inspectorate's starting position is that these people are employees and minimum employment standards apply, including being paid at least the minimum wage for every hour worked.”

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