this post was submitted on 14 Mar 2025
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This wasn't a crime before?

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[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 15 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

This wasn't a crime before?

As I understand it, an employer not paying your wages is (was?) treated as someone not paying an invoice. Like if you don't pay your power bill, you owe the power company money and your power company has a range of options to get the money from you but it's not a crime to not pay your power bill, even if you never intended to pay.

I think this Act recognises that there's quite a difference between not paying an invoice when you are a private individual vs a company who is responsible for many people's livelihoods.

[–] Wolf314159@startrek.website 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Okay, great. Who from the company will go to jail? If it's just a fine, then it's just the cost of doing business. Nothing will change. Companies will continue to steal. If they don't get caught, then it's profitable. If they do get caught, it's a loss they offset by stealing some more.

[–] notabot@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago

Make the fines, multiplied by the probability of actually getting fined, greater than the value of the theft and it becomes more economical not to steal peoples wages.

[–] kurikai 10 points 1 day ago

Of course national and act would appose it. They are criminals themselves

[–] Antigrav@mastodon.nz 7 points 1 day ago

@luthis , good job.
What took them that long?

[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

We need a list of names for everyone who votes no against this bill. Not paying wages is a huge problem in construction and it should be criminal.

[–] kurikai 5 points 1 day ago

National and ACT. Suprise surprise. Since they hate anyone who is not wealthy