Jennifer Pittorino
The Fair Work Ombudsman has recovered $684,543 in wages for 1004 underpaid workers after investigating employers in Melbourne’s food precincts, including in the inner west.
Fair Work Inspectors investigated 84 businesses across Footscray, West Footscray, Seddon, Yarraville, Newport and Williamstown among other other suburbs in Melbourne.
In the 82 completed investigations, 86 per cent of businesses had breached workplace laws.
Businesses were selected for surprise inspections based on their risk of breaching workplace laws, Fair Work said.
At-risk businesses had a history of non-compliance with the FWO, had been the subject of anonymous tip-offs, or employed vulnerable visa holders, Fair Worksaid.
Of the 71 businesses found to be in breach, 69 had underpaid their workers and 24 had failed to meet pay slip or record-keeping requirements.
The most common breaches found were underpaying penalty rates (52 businesses), followed by failing to pay minimum wages including casual loading (51 businesses) and record-keeping issues (17 businesses).
In response to the breaches, the FWO issued a compliance notice each to 68 businesses, recovering $684,543 for 1004 workers.
There were 32 infringement notices issued for pay slip and record-keeping breaches, resulting in $54,721 in fines.
Acting Fair Work Ombudsman Kristen Hannah said the inspections were part of a national program that has targeted food precincts across the country.
“Uncovering high levels of non-compliance in Melbourne’s fast food, restaurant and café sector, as the FWO has nationwide, is disappointing,” she said.
“Employers can’t pick and choose which wage laws they follow and those doing the wrong thing are being found out.
“The Fair Work Ombudsman will continue to prioritise improving compliance in this sector, which we know employs many visa holders and young workers who can be vulnerable.
“Employers can use our free tools and resources if they need assistance meeting their obligations. Workers with concerns about their pay or entitlement should come forward for help.”
