AUSTRALIA | More than AUD 220,000 has been recovered for Sunshine Coast food outlet workers by surprise visits from the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Fair Work inspectors investigated 21 businesses on the Sunshine Coast in the fast food, restaurant and café sector. A mix of ‘high-end’ restaurants and ‘cheap eats’ venues were visited. The inspections were prompted by intelligence from a range of sources, including anonymous reports. The inspected food outlets are in the Noosa Shire food precincts across the suburbs of Noosa Heads, Sunrise Beach and Noosaville.
Of 19 investigations finalised, the Fair Work Ombudsman found workplace law breaches in 68 percent of food outlets (13 businesses).
The most common breach was underpayment of or failure to pay various types of penalty rates (14 businesses), followed by failure to pay correct minimum wages for ordinary hours (11 businesses), overtime (six businesses) and leave (six businesses), and record-keeping breaches (five businesses).
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said improving compliance in the fast food, restaurant and café sector was an ongoing priority for the regulator.
“These disappointing Sunshine Coast 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 added that the Fair Work Ombudsman is there to help businesses in the food sector get it right in the first place.
“We also urge workers with concerns about wages and entitlements to reach out to us - including anonymously if preferred.”
The highest amount recovered from any one business was AUD 105,137 for 99 employees, primarily casual wait staff and kitchen staff and a mix of adults and juniors who were underpaid their overtime hours and penalty rates.
Following investigations, the Fair Work Ombudsman issued 14 Compliance Notices, which resulted in the recoveries of AUD 223,107 for 447 workers.
Five Infringement Notices for payslip and record-keeping breaches resulted in $26,650 in fines paid. One business remains under investigation.
The national program of audits has previously targeted eateries in locations such as Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart, Launceston, Darwin, the Gold Coast, Perth, Newcastle and Canberra.
In 2022-23, the Fair Work Ombudsman secured more than $800,000 in court-ordered penalties against food sector employers.
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