The Fair Work Ombudsman inspected fast food outlets, restaurants and cafes in Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs last week to ensure workers are getting the right pay.
Fair Work Inspectors targeted 27 food businesses within the Manningham City Council suburbs of Doncaster, Doncaster East, Bulleen, Templestowe, Park Orchards and Warrandyte. They spoke with business owners, managers and employees on the ground, and requested records.
Businesses were chosen for inspection based on intelligence including anonymous reports, prior history of alleged non-compliance, or employment of vulnerable staff such as young people and visa holders.
The inspections are part of the FWO’s national Food Precincts Program, which assesses compliance with the Fair Work Act in food precincts which have a high number of ‘cheap eats’ venues.
FWO Anna Booth says the agency continues to prioritise assisting vulnerable or ‘at risk’ workers, such as young people and visa holders, who are heavily represented in the fast food, restaurants and cafes sector.
“The fast food, restaurants and cafes sector employs many young workers and visa holders who can be unaware of their workplace rights or unwilling to speak up,” she says.
“Unfortunately, we’ve found a high rate of non-compliance through our Food Precincts Program inspections nationwide; it seems that employees often pay the price of low-cost dining.
“We urge workers with concerns about their wages and entitlements to reach out to us – including anonymously if preferred. Employers should access our free tools and resources to ensure they’re meeting their obligations or contact the FWO directly for free advice.”
Previous inspections in Melbourne’s inner south and inner west resulted in $684,543 in wages recovered for 1004 workers. In Melbourne’s south-east, $58,000 was back paid to 121 food outlet workers following surprise inspections and investigations.
The FWO has recovered more than $1.2 million for workers in Melbourne’s fast food, restaurants and cafes sector after Food Precincts Program inspections.
