The Fair Work Ombudsman has recovered $404,721 in wages for 623 underpaid workers as a result of its investigation of 77 businesses in Brisbane’s food precincts that were deemed ‘at risk’ for their history of non-compliance with the FWO, as well as being subjects of anonymous tip-offs, or employed vulnerable visa holders.
In a series of surprise inspections, Fair Work Inspectors found 58 of the 77 businesses, located across a range of suburbs, had indeed breached workplace laws. Of these non-compliant businesses, 53 had underpaid their workers and 26 had failed to meet payslip and record-keeping requirements.
The most common breaches found were the failure to pay penalty rates or casual loading (40 businesses), followed by underpayment of the minimum hourly rate of pay (37 businesses) and breaches of pay slip laws (19 businesses).
Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said the inspections were part of a national program that has targeted food precincts in Brisbane’s West End and Melbourne, Sydney, the Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart and Launceston, and recovered more than $2 million for workers.
“Uncovering high levels of non-compliance in Brisbane’s fastfood, restaurant and café sector, as the FWO has nationwide, is disappointing. Employers can’t pick and choose which wage laws they follow and those doing the wrong thing are being found out,” Parker said. “The Fair Work Ombudsman will continue to prioritise improving compliance in this sector, which we know employs many young workers and visa holders who can each be vulnerable.”
The largest recovery from one business was $80,258 on behalf of 68 full-time and part-time employees.
The FWO also issued 49 Compliance Notices to 49 businesses, recovering $383,983 for 609 workers. There were 29 Infringement Notices issued for payslip and record-keeping breaches, resulting in $78,932 paid in fines. Matters are ongoing in relation to two businesses.
Non-compliant businesses were also reminded that any future breaches may lead to higher-level enforcement action by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
