Queensland growers are being targeted by the Fair Work Ombudsman in its latest wage theft blitz of 'hot spots' around the country. Inspectors are on the ground this week in the Lockyer Valley region assessing 20 farms and labour-hire companies.…
A farm business is facing huge penalties for exploiting vulnerable two migrant workers. The company allegedly underpaid the employees more than $28,000, falsified records to hide the wage theft, in addition to making unlawful deductions. Farm business facing huge penalties…
A cleaning company has been penalised $140,000 for underpaying 35 workers more than $114,000. The company also falsified records to cover up the wage theft. Cleaning company penalised Carnarvon Cleaners is a contract cleaning business operating in regional Western Australia.…
A bakery worker has been penalised a total of $60,480 for taking advantage of a migrant worker's vulnerability. The Federal Circuit and Family Court said it needed set the penalties at a level to provide “an adequate deterrent”. Bakery operator…
A Queensland sole trader has been accused of ripping off three cleaners and housekeepers. The Fair Work Ombudsman also alleges the employer ignored two Compliance Notices, requiring him to back-pay the workers. Queensland sole trader accused of ripping off workers…
Fair Work has finally made an effort to recover stolen wages, clawing back $148 million in underpayments for 69,735 workers. The sum is a record of back-paid wages and entitlements, and is contained in the regulator's annual report released this…
Hundreds of workers in Gold Coast cafes, take away stores and restaurants have been underpaid a total of $215,000. The Fair Work Ombudsman discovered the wage theft during surprise audits of 50 "cheap eats" outlets in the area. Gold Coast…
A Brisbane sushi store is facing more than $630,000 in penalties for allegedly underpaying 34 staff. The outlet is also accused of providing falsified documents to Fair Work inspectors to cover up the wage theft. The huge penalties are ten…
A stone fruit farm has been penalised $144,000 for 'deliberate and conscious' wage theft involving two workers. The Federal Circuit Court was scathing of the conduct of Zucco Farming Pty Ltd, which operates a stone fruit farm near Swan Hill.…
More than $1 million in stolen wages has been recovered for 2,500 fruit and vegetable pickers. The Fair Work Ombudsman's Harvest Trail Inquiry involved 638 wage theft investigations over the past five years. The regulator targeted 444 growers and 194…