Checks get fair pay for workers

A CAIRNS sushi business is among more than 100 businesses in Cairns, Innisfail and Mission Beach caught underpaying workers or failing to meet pay slip requirements.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has released the findings of its recent campaign which focused on 266 businesses across a range of industries.

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said, while it was encouraging most businesses in the region were meeting obligations, any instance of noncompliance was cause for concern.

“We have been working with non-compliant businesses to assist them to rectify these issues and put in place processes to prevent them from happening again in the future,” Ms James said.

Sushi Train Cairns director Junji Tomehata had failed to check which pay rates applied to his workers after buying the business in 2014.

A Fair Work Ombudsman showed the oversight led to underpayments of more than $54,000 to 28 workers.

Ms James said Mr Tomehata co-operated fully with the Fair Work Ombudsman and back-paid $53,993.58 in owed wages to 24 workers.

“We have taken the Fair Work audit very seriously and have finalised all outstanding payments to our employees and are now operating under full compliance to labour law,” Mr Tomehata said.

An outstanding amount of $2997.26 owed to four workers who have returned to their home countries will be rectified under the terms of the European Union.

Action was also taken against 12 other non-compliant businesses including one where a working holiday visaholder was underpaid $1100. The employer was issued with an infringement notice.

Another audit found two retail employees had not been paid applicable penalty rates and overtime because the employer paid the workers under an old workplace agreement.

The Fair Work Ombudsman recovered more than $9000 in back-pay for the workers and issued the employer with a letter of caution.

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