New Zealand Police have been stood down from hiring overseas workers for six months after failing to keep complete employment records. ​

The Labour Inspectorate also fined police $7000, a spokesman confirmed.

Police were automatically placed on Immigration New Zealand's stand down list after the inspectorate issued the infringement notice.

The police are prohibited from hiring migrant workers until July 28.

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A police spokesperson said the breach related to how the organisation paid vetting staff.

SIMON O'CONNOR/STUFF NZ Police have been issued and infringement notice by the Labour Inspectorate.

"Police vetters have traditionally been paid on a per file basis as opposed to an hourly rate basis. This file amount is based on the average time to complete an average file," the spokesperson said.

"The Employment Relations and Holidays Act requires a complete record of hours worked for wage. As vetters' work was not recorded in this way, NZ Police has been found in breach of this section of the Act."

Vetters records were now amended to reflect the number of hours they worked, the spokesperson said.

Since April 1, 2017 employers that flout immigration and employment law must undergo a stand-down period where they are no longer be able to hire migrant workers.

The measures applied to employers intending to recruit labour market-tested migrant workers, as well as Recognised Seasonal Employer-accredited employers.

The stand-down period applied if employers incurred employment standard-related penalties, such as an infringement notice from the Labour Inspectorate.

It could also included penalties issued by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), through to those issued as a result of private action in the Employment Court.

There were 101 employers on the February 26 stand down list.