The Fair Work Ombudsman conducted surprise inspections of food outlets in south Brisbane last week to check workers are getting the right pay and entitlements.
More than 45 businesses face investigations across the Sunnybank region, with Fair Work Inspectors speaking with business owners, managers and employees on the ground, and requesting records.
Businesses were selected for investigation based on FWO intelligence which includes indicators of possible non-compliance, such as tip-offs to the FWO, if they had a history with the FWO, or if they employed vulnerable workers such as visa holders or young workers.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said protecting vulnerable workers and improving compliance in the fast food, restaurant and café sector were priorities for the regulator.
“Inspectors are on the ground in Brisbane this week speaking with employees and holding employers to account if they are not meeting their obligations,” Booth said. “We won’t hesitate to take enforcement action if needed. 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,” Booth added. “We urge workers with concerns about wages and entitlements to reach out to us, including anonymously if preferred.”
Inspectors are on alert for 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, among other concerns.
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. It has previously targeted eateries in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart, the Gold Coast, Perth, and, most recently, Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
