Wage theft inquiry told dodgy employers should be jailed

The Queensland government’s inquiry into wage theft has been told that employers who steal wages from their employees should be criminally prosecuted, convicted and even jailed.

The call comes from industrial relations advocate Miles Heffernan, Litigation Director at Industrial Relations Claims, in an explosive submission published by the inquiry today.

Wage theft ‘endemic’ in many industries

Mr Heffernan describes wage theft as “endemic” in many industries including hospitality, retail, fast food, and hair & beauty, where it’s estimated that one in two workers is being illegally paid.

“Employers have been allowed to get away with stealing from their workers for way too long, and it’s going to continue until both state and federal governments start getting serious about penalties,” Mr Heffernan said.

Unfair playing field

Currently it is a criminal offence for an employee to steal from their employer, but no such offence exists when a boss steals from their worker.

“This is fundamentally an unfair playing field, and greedy employers are taking advantage of it, and laughing all the way to the bank – with their worker’s money,” Mr Heffernan said.

Inquiry to hold public hearings

The wage theft inquiry is holding a number of public hearings in the coming weeks before delivering its recommendations to the government in November.

Both the Victorian and New South Wales Labor parties have pledged to criminalise wage theft if they win at their next elections, and it’s expected the Queensland government will introduce similar legislation following the inquiry.

“Employers who steal from their employees are nothing more than common thieves, and until we start convicting them, and locking them up, nothing much is going to change,” Mr Heffernan said.

If you have not received your proper wages and entitlements, or are considering legal action to recover stolen wages, we can help.

Please call our specialist team at WAGETHEFT.net.au on

1300 1 THEFT (1300 184 338)

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