Fair Work Infoline: 13 13 94
Media Release
4 Dec 2009
Internet café operators fined $20,000 for
underpaying employee
The former operators of a Melbourne internet café have been penalised almost
$20,000 for underpaying a customer service employee $33,000 over two years.
Swan Flooring Pty Ltd - which previously operated the Geto Internet Café at Box
Hill - has been fined $16,500 and company director Soo Hong Kwon, who
managed the business, a further $3300.
The fines are the result of a prosecution launched in the Melbourne Magistrates
Court by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
The customer service employee, aged in his 30s, was underpaid the minimum
hourly rate between August, 2005 and September, 2007.
The worker was paid $10-an-hour for recorded hours worked and $7-an-hour for
‘cash-in-hand hours’.
He should have been paid $17.88-an-hour when he was employed on a casual
basis from August, 2005 to January, 2006 and $14.30 to $15.02 an hour when
employed on a permanent basis from February, 2006 to September, 2007.
The employee was also underpaid accrued annual leave entitlements upon
termination of his employment.
Swan Flooring recently back-paid the man all money owing to him.
Fair Work Ombudsman Executive Director Michael Campbell says the penalty
reinforces the message that employers must meet their lawful obligations to their
workforce.
“We will prosecute companies and individuals who do not respect their
employees’ workplace rights,” he said.
The Fair Work Ombudsman promotes harmonious, productive and co-operative
workplaces. It also monitors compliance and investigates breaches of national
workplace laws.
Employers or employees seeking assistance should contact the Fair Work Infoline
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
NEWS 
