Gameloft cleared of dangerous working conditions claims by New Zealand Labour Department

Following allegations of dangerous working conditions by former lead programmer Glenn Watson, Gameloft Auckland has been cleared of claims it was in breach of employment law.

The New Zealand Labour Department, which began an inquiry after Watson blew the whistle on his former employer, said it could find "no substantial evidence" that workers had been put at risk due to what was claimed were unreasonable working hours.

Working weak

Watson, who has since moved to Australia, made the claims back in July, stating he had worked between 100 and 120 hours a week on occasion.

"There were other times when I would be called back into the office at 11:30pm by the studio producer, only to head home again at 2:30am," he said at the time.

"It was after I worked four consecutive weeks of fourteen-hour days - including weekends - that I realised I needed to resign."

No action, no comment

As a result of Watson's claims, the authorities looked into whether Gameloft Auckland had violated the country's Health and Employment Act (1992), putting employees at risk through fatigue.

However, no action is to be taken against the French publisher following the culmination of the investigation, with Gameloft's Sydney-based spokesman Paul Puech saying the company had no comment to make in reply.

[source: Stuff.co.nz]