Probe finds staff underpaid

AUSTRALIA’S workplace watchdog has put businesses on Tasmania’s East Coast on notice after an investigation found almost one in three were breaking workplace laws.

A Fair Work Ombudsman’s education and compliance campaign, which targeted Tasmania’s south and east coasts, found 31 per cent of audited businesses were non-compliant with workplace laws.

The campaign was sparked by employment growth in a range of sectors across the region, including those employing many young people and visa holders such as accommodation and food services, and manufacturing.

Fair Work inspectors audited the time and wage records of 55 businesses across Orford, Triabunna, Swansea, Bicheno and Scamander.

As a result, $9580 was recovered for 11 employees, with individual amounts ranging from $111 to $3835. Fair Work inspectors issued two formal cautions, two infringement notices (on-the-spot fines) and one compliance notice.

One motel was found to have failed to meet the minimum hourly rate required under the relevant award in respect of four of its workers, half of its workforce. The employer was issued with a compliance notice and a total of $3579 was back-paid to the workers in accordance with the notice.

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said offending businesses were now on notice that future breaches would not be tolerated.

“There has never been more freely available information to assist employers to understand and comply with their workplace obligations,” he said.

All businesses found to be non-compliant had fewer than 15 employees.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry accused the Fair Work Ombudsman of “headline grabbing” over the report.

“What we see is that Fair Work’s investigation uncovered several instances of small businesses making mistakes in payment to their employees, rather than premeditated rorting,” said TCCI chief executive Michael Bailey. “From this investigation of 55 businesses, Fair Work has only issued two formal cautions, two infringement notices (onthe-spot fines) and one compliance notice during the campaign.”