Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

 Plain Language Law homepage
Back to
223C: Enforcement of undertakings
or “The law says the government can make sure promises made by employers are kept, and there are consequences if they don't.”
You could also call this:

“A special worker helper can tell bosses to fix problems if they're not following the rules.”

A Labour Inspector can give you an improvement notice if they think you’re not following the rules as an employer. This notice tells you to follow the rules.

The improvement notice will tell you which rule you’re not following, why the inspector thinks you’re not following it, and how you’re not following it. It will also suggest ways you can follow the rule and give you a date by which you need to follow it.

The notice might also say how your employees have been affected if you didn’t follow the rules.

The inspector can give you the notice directly or leave it with you if you don’t want to take it. They’ll make sure you know about it.

The inspector can’t give you an improvement notice between 17 December and 8 January.

If you don’t follow the improvement notice, the Employment Relations Authority can make you follow it using a compliance order under section 137.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

Next up: 223E: Objection to improvement notice

or “You can tell the Authority if you don't agree with a notice telling you to fix something at work.”
Next

Part 11 General provisions
Improvement notices

223DLabour Inspector may issue improvement notice

  1. A Labour Inspector who believes on reasonable grounds that any employer is failing, or has failed, to comply with any provision of the relevant Acts may issue the employer with an improvement notice that requires the employer to comply with the provision.

  2. An improvement notice issued under subsection (1) must state—

  3. the provision that the Labour Inspector reasonably believes that the employer is failing, or has failed, to comply with; and
    1. the Labour Inspector's reasons for believing that the employer is failing, or has failed, to comply with the provision; and
      1. the nature and extent of the employer's failure to comply with the provision; and
        1. the steps that the employer could take to comply with the provision; and
          1. the date before which the employer must comply with the provision.

            1. An improvement notice may state the nature and extent of any loss suffered by any employee as a result of the employer's failure to comply with the provision (if applicable).

            2. An improvement notice may be issued—

            3. by giving it to the employer concerned; or
              1. if the employer does not accept the improvement notice, by leaving it in the employer’s presence and drawing the employer’s attention to it.

                1. An improvement notice may not be issued in the period commencing on 17 December and ending with the close of 8 January in the following year.

                2. An improvement notice may be enforced by the making by the Authority of a compliance order under section 137.

                Notes
                • Section 223D: inserted, on , by section 37 of the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 125).