[Australia] Surprise FWO inspections at Brisbane food outlets

Earlier this month, Australia’s Fair Work Ombudsman made surprise inspections of food outlets in Brisbane’s south to ensure that workers were receiving correct pay and entitlements, Fair Work Ombudsman reports.

More than 45 businesses across the Sunnybank region - including in Sunnybank, Macgregor, Robertson and Sunnybank Hills - received visits from Fair Work Inspectors.

They reportedly spoke with business owners, managers and employees on the ground and requested records.

The regulator acted on intelligence from various sources, including anonymous reports, indicating potential employee underpayments in the area's food precincts. Most of the locations visited were ‘cheap eats’ venues.

FWO intelligence determined which businesses were selected for investigation. Information considered included indicators of possible non-compliance, such as tip-offs to the regulator, whether the business had a history with the FWO or if they employed vulnerable workers such as visa holders or young workers.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth reportedly said that protecting vulnerable workers and improving compliance in the fast food, restaurant and café sector were FWO priorities.

“Inspectors are on the ground in Brisbane this week speaking with employees and holding employers to account if they are not meeting their obligations. We won’t hesitate to take enforcement action if needed,” Ms Booth said as the inspections got underway.

“These inspections 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.

“This sector engages many young workers and visa holders who can be vulnerable, as they are often unaware of their workplace rights or unwilling to speak up.”

Ms Booth added, “We urge workers with concerns about 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.”

Inspectors are reportedly on the lookout for breaches including unlawfully low flat rates of pay, “off the books” employment arrangements, inadequate or missed breaks, non-payment of penalty rates and overtime rates and inadequate or false record-keeping and pay slips.

The inspections are part of a national program that has recently recovered more than $680,000 in unpaid wages for workers in Melbourne’s inner south and inner west food precinct. 

The FWO offers these interactive tools to help employers and employees in the fast food, restaurant and café sector and for any franchisees. Employers can reportedly use FWO’s pay calculator and Small Business Showcase. Small businesses can self-assess compliance with this checklist.

It also provides resources for visa holders (who have the same workplace rights as any other employee) and young workers.

Source: Fair Work Ombudsman

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

Earlier this month, Australia’s Fair Work Ombudsman made surprise inspections of food outlets in Brisbane’s south to ensure that workers were receiving correct pay and entitlements, Fair Work Ombudsman reports.

More than 45 businesses across the Sunnybank region - including in Sunnybank, Macgregor, Robertson and Sunnybank Hills - received visits from Fair Work Inspectors.

They reportedly spoke with business owners, managers and employees on the ground and requested records.

The regulator acted on intelligence from various sources, including anonymous reports, indicating potential employee underpayments in the area's food precincts. Most of the locations visited were ‘cheap eats’ venues.

FWO intelligence determined which businesses were selected for investigation. Information considered included indicators of possible non-compliance, such as tip-offs to the regulator, whether the business had a history with the FWO or if they employed vulnerable workers such as visa holders or young workers.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth reportedly said that protecting vulnerable workers and improving compliance in the fast food, restaurant and café sector were FWO priorities.

“Inspectors are on the ground in Brisbane this week speaking with employees and holding employers to account if they are not meeting their obligations. We won’t hesitate to take enforcement action if needed,” Ms Booth said as the inspections got underway.

“These inspections 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.

“This sector engages many young workers and visa holders who can be vulnerable, as they are often unaware of their workplace rights or unwilling to speak up.”

Ms Booth added, “We urge workers with concerns about 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.”

Inspectors are reportedly on the lookout for breaches including unlawfully low flat rates of pay, “off the books” employment arrangements, inadequate or missed breaks, non-payment of penalty rates and overtime rates and inadequate or false record-keeping and pay slips.

The inspections are part of a national program that has recently recovered more than $680,000 in unpaid wages for workers in Melbourne’s inner south and inner west food precinct. 

The FWO offers these interactive tools to help employers and employees in the fast food, restaurant and café sector and for any franchisees. Employers can reportedly use FWO’s pay calculator and Small Business Showcase. Small businesses can self-assess compliance with this checklist.

It also provides resources for visa holders (who have the same workplace rights as any other employee) and young workers.

Source: Fair Work Ombudsman

(Links and quotes via original reporting)