Back-pay For Workers In Sydney's Southern And South-western Suburbs

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27th October 2009, 11:45am - Views: 1106





People Feature Fair Work Ombudsman 1 image

People Feature Fair Work Ombudsman 2 image


Fair Work Infoline: 13 13 94 



Media Release




         27 Oct 2009


Back-pay for workers in Sydney’s Southern and

South-Western suburbs


Dozens of underpaid workers in Sydney’s Southern and South-Western suburbs

have been reimbursed thousands of dollars after investigations by the Fair Work

Ombudsman.


NSW inspectors unearthed underpayments of more than $375,000 over the past

few months through a combination of routine audits and investigations into

complaints from the Southern and South-West suburbs.


Significant underpayments were discovered in the retail, construction and

manufacturing industries.


In one case, a salesperson at Liverpool has been back-paid $11,000 after her

employer failed to pay her full wages, commissions and superannuation.


Fair Work inspectors helped the company to understand its obligations and it

voluntarily complied without the need for further action.


Other recoveries include:



$30,000 for a salesperson in Arncliffe underpaid annual leave, long service

and superannuation entitlements, 


$17,700 for a salesperson at Kingsgrove underpaid termination entitlements

including long service,


$12,800 for a production worker in Marrickville underpaid long service leave

entitlements, 


$11,000 for a clerk in Ingleburn underpaid overtime and annual leave

entitlements,


$10,700 for a production worker in Kurnell underpaid redundancy

entitlements,


$10,000 for a salesperson in Hurlstone Park for non-payment of some time

worked, 


$9000 for a labourer in Ingleburn underpaid annual leave entitlements and

non-payment of some hours worked,


$6800 for a manager at Ingleburn underpaid annual leave entitlements,

four-weeks salary and pay in lieu of notice,


$6600 for a Kingsway West construction industry worker underpaid wages

and annual leave entitlements,


$2700 for a salesperson in Hurstville underpaid on termination, including pay

in lieu of notice and annual leave entitlements, and


$1900 for six young workers at a Campbelltown food outlet underpaid the

minimum hourly rate, penalty rates and annual leave pay.


Fair Work Ombudsman NSW Director Mark Davidson says most of the

underpayments were the result of a lack of understanding by employers of their

legal obligations, including applicable Awards and pay-scales.

People Feature Fair Work Ombudsman 3 image






Fair Work Infoline: 13 13 94 


2


“That’s why the Fair Work Ombudsman places such a strong focus on educating

employers and assisting them to understand and comply with workplace laws,” he

said.


Mr Davidson says in most cases, the Fair Work Ombudsman does not prosecute

employers for inadvertent breaches of workplace laws.


“Most of the $70 million we have recovered for 54,000 workers throughout

Australia over the past two years has been recouped without resorting to

litigation,” he said.


“However, employers need to be aware that they can face fines of up $33,000 per

breach if we do take matters to court.” 


Mr Davidson says employers or employees seeking up-to-date information on

wage rates and conditions should visit www.fwo.gov.au or contact the Fair Work

Infoline on 13 13 94. Translations are available by calling 13 14 50.


“The Fair Work Ombudsman’s website also includes information and templates to

help employers better manage employment records and payslips,” he said.


“Employers need to be aware that under Commonwealth workplace laws they

must keep accurate time, wages, annual leave and other employment records

and issue sufficiently detailed payslips.”


Eleven Best Practice Guides have been developed by the Fair Work Ombudsman

to assist employers make better use of the provisions of the Fair Work Act and

better understand other aspects of workplace laws.


The new guides are on the website and cover work and family, consultation and

co-operation, individual flexibility arrangements, employing young workers,

gender pay equity, small business, workplace privacy, managing

underperformance, effective dispute resolution and improving workplace

productivity in bargaining. 


The Fair Work Ombudsman promotes harmonious, productive and co-operative

workplaces. It also monitors compliance and investigates breaches of national

workplace laws.


NOTE: We are unable to identify individual businesses or provide additional

information about the cases listed.



Media inquiries: 


Craig Bildstien, Director Media & Stakeholder Relations. 0419 818 484.

craig.bildstien@fwo.gov.au


Ryan Pedler, Senior Adviser Media & Stakeholder Relations. (03) 9954

2561, 0434 365 924. ryan.pedler@fwo.gov.au










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