Department of Labour visits retailers on Good Friday

06 April 2007

The Department of Labour visited retailers around New Zealand today to make sure they were complying with shop trading rules.

Deputy Secretary for Workplace Andrew Annakin said 31 retailers were visited on Easter Friday. Six of those were found to be closed when visited.

The majority of retailers visited were garden centres, mainly in the larger cities.

“Visits like this are business as usual for the Department – they are carried out on the three and a half restricted days which are set out in the Shop Trading Hours Repeal Act 1990.

“It’s likely Department of Labour staff visited retailers today if they had been prosecuted last year and warned about opening this year, or if a member of the public complained about the retailer opening.

“These visits could result in the retailer being issued with a warning or summonses, depending on the retailer’s specific circumstances.

“The Department’s priority is ensuring retailers are well informed of the legislation. Retailers wanting to confirm their obligations have had ample opportunity over the past year to contact the Department, or check the shop trading guidelines on the Department’s website.

“The Shop Trading Hours Repeal Act has been in place since 1990 – it’s not new legislation - and if a business remains open when it’s not exempt further steps will be taken,” he said.

The Department will also be visiting retailers on Easter Sunday.

Ends.