AUSTRALIA | The Fair Work Ombudsman has recovered AUD $217,806 for 209 underpaid food outlet employees in Cairns, following surprise inspections.
Fair Work Inspectors investigated 35 businesses in Cairns’ fast food, restaurants and cafés sector – mostly ‘cheap eats’ venues in Cairns City, Cairns North, Palm Cove and Trinity Beach. Businesses were targeted for investigation based on FWO intelligence from a range of sources, including anonymous reports.
Of 31 investigations finalised, the FWO found 23 businesses (74 percent) had breached workplace laws. The most common breaches were failing to pay various penalty rates (21 businesses), underpaying minimum wages (11 businesses), and not paying the right allowances (nine businesses).
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said improving compliance in the fast food, restaurants and cafés sector was an ongoing priority for the regulator.
“These disappointing Cairns findings are part of a national food precincts program where we’ve often found that low-cost dining comes at the expense of workers’ lawful wages,” Booth said.
“Employers must follow all wage laws, including penalty rates, which generally serve as compensation for those working at times when most people are not. Those doing the wrong thing are being found out and held to account.”
Booth also said the Fair Work Ombudsman had urged workers with concerns about wages and entitlements to reach out - including anonymously if preferred.
The largest amount recovered from any one business was AUD $46,576 for six restaurant employees, who were cooks, kitchen hands, and bar attendants. These workers were underpaid penalty rates, had outdated pay rates resulting in underpaid minimum rates, and missed out on overtime pay.
Following investigations, the FWO issued 23 Compliance Notices, recovering the AUD $217,806 for the 209 workers.
Eleven Infringement Notices for pay slip and record-keeping breaches also resulted in AUD $12,895 in fines paid.
Investigations into four businesses are ongoing.
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