{
  "id": 5204297,
  "title": "SSM Investments, owner face more fines for exploiting workers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/ssm-investments-owner-face-more-fines-for-exploiting-workers",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-03T00:09:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RNZ Business",
    "slug": "rnz-business",
    "url": "https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/1242488/ssm-investments-owner-face-more-fines-for-exploiting-workers"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A restaurant and takeaway business in Auckland and Cromwell, along with its owner Shazneen Shariza Khan, have been fined $130,000 for exploiting workers. The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) ordered the penalties following an investigation into multiple employment standard breaches. Khan and the company were found guilty of failing to pay the minimum wage, sick leave, and holiday pay, among other violations. The ERA member Philip Cheyne highlighted the inherent inequity of power in the employment relationship, stating that such actions undermine employment standards. The Labour Inspectorate's investigation was initiated due to complaints from Cromwell branch employees. The fines, totaling $90,000 for the company and $40,000 for Khan, were levied after a freezing order in October 2025 secured funds to cover the arrears, which were subsequently paid to the affected workers. The fines aim to serve as a strong deterrent to employers exploiting vulnerable workers, ensuring they face significant financial consequences. The breaches, including one case where an employee was owed over $78,500, including $49,000 in unpaid wages and $11,000 in unlawful deductions, created substantial stress and hardship for the affected workers. The Labour Inspectorate emphasized the significant power imbalance in these employment relationships, warning that employers exploiting vulnerable workers and disregarding minimum employment standards will face enforcement action.",
  "summary": "The fines followed an earlier ERA order to the business to pay five former employees $147,001 in wage arrears.",
  "key_points": [
    "Auckland restaurant and takeaway fined $130,000 for worker exploitation",
    "Owner Shazneen Shariza Khan and company guilty of wage, sick leave, holiday pay breaches",
    "Fines aim to deter exploitation of vulnerable workers"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The substantial fines imposed on SSM Investments and its owner serve as a strong deterrent to employers exploiting vulnerable workers, highlighting the significant financial consequences of disregarding minimum employment standards.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}