Fair Work Infoline: 13 13 94
Media Release
15 Oct 2010
Illawarra workers back-paid $42,000 after
regulator intervenes
Workers in the NSW Illawarra region have been back-paid more than $42,000 as a result
of recent investigations by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
The biggest recovery was $11,000 for a casual horticultural worker in the Dapto area who
was underpaid his hourly rate.
The worker lodged a complaint with the Fair Work Ombudsman after he was underpaid for
more than three years.
After Fair Work inspectors contacted the company and explained its obligations, the worker
was back-paid in full.
The recovery is one of a number of cases in the Illawarra region finalised recently. The
underpayments were discovered through a combination of routine audits and
investigations into complaints from workers.
They include:
$7500 for a Shellharbour security guard underpaid the minimum hourly rate and
annual leave entitlements,
$7200 for a Wollongong consultant not paid pay in lieu of notice, annual leave or
long service leave entitlements,
$6500 for a Wollongong salesman who had unauthorised deductions from his
annual leave entitlements,
$5300 for a Wollongong clerk underpaid the minimum hourly rate, and
$5000 for a Bowral construction worker underpaid his redundancy entitlements.
Fair Work Ombudsman Executive Director Michael Campbell says educating and assisting
employers is a key part of the Fair Work Ombudsman’s role.
“In most cases, we do not prosecute employers for accidental breaches of workplace laws,”
he said. “We prefer to educate employers and assist them to voluntarily rectify any issues
we identify.”
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to assist employees and employers to check minimum rates of pay.
Small to medium-sized businesses without human resources staff can also ensure they are
better equipped when hiring, managing and dismissing employees by using free template
employment documentation with step-by-step instructions.
Employers or employees seeking assistance or further information can also contact the Fair
Work Infoline on 13 13 94 from 8am-6pm weekdays. For translations, call 13 14 50.
Media inquiries:
Richard Honey, Adviser, Media & Stakeholder Relations, 0457 924 146,
richard.honey@fwo.gov.au
NEWS 
