The Fair Work Ombudsman has recovered $447,339 for 365 underpaid food outlet employees in Brisbane.
It has also issued more than $162,000 in fines for pay slip and record-keeping breaches.
Fair Work Inspectors investigated 51 fast food outlets, restaurants and cafes – mostly ‘cheap eats’ venues – in the southern Brisbane suburbs of Sunnybank, Sunnybank Hills, Macgregor and Robertson.
Businesses were targeted for investigation based on FWO intelligence from a range of sources, including anonymous reports.
The FWO found 44 businesses (86%) had breached workplace laws. The most common breaches were a failure to pay penalty rates (32 businesses), underpaying minimum wages for ordinary hours (24 businesses), and record-keeping breaches (21 businesses).
FWO Anna Booth says improving compliance in the fast food, restaurants and cafes sector is an ongoing priority for the regulator.
“These disappointing findings in Brisbane are part of a national Food Precincts Program where we’ve often found that low-cost dining comes at the expense of workers’ lawful wages,” she says.
“Employers must follow all wage laws, including penalty rates, which generally serve as compensation for those working at times when most people are not. Those doing the wrong thing are being found out and held to account.
“Record-keeping and accurate pay slips are the bedrock of compliance, and some employers have paid the price – part of more than $162,000 in fines – for failing to follow those laws.
“Employers should access our wide range of free online tools and resources to ensure they’re meeting their obligations or contact us directly for free advice. We want to help businesses in the food sector get it right in the first place.
“We also urge workers with concerns about wages and entitlements to reach out to us – including anonymously if preferred.”
