The Fair Work Ombudsman has recovered $223,107 for 447 underpaid food outlet employees on the Sunshine Coast, following surprise inspections.
Fair Work inspectors have investigated 21 businesses in the Sunshine Coast’s fast food, restaurant and café sector, as well as a mix of ‘high-end’ restaurants and ‘cheap eats’ venues.
The inspections were prompted by intelligence from a range of sources, including anonymous reports.
The inspected food outlets are in the suburbs of Noosa Heads, Sunrise Beach and Noosaville.
The Ombudsman found workplace law breaches in 68 per cent of food outlets (13 businesses).
The most common breach was underpayment of or failure to pay various types of penalty rates, followed by failure to pay correct minimum wages for ordinary hours, overtime and leave, and record-keeping breaches.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth says improving compliance in the fast food, restaurant and café sector is an ongoing priority for the regulator.
“These disappointing Sunshine Coast findings 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,” Ms Booth says.
“Employers must follow all wage laws, including penalty rates which generally serve as compensation for those working at times when most people are not. Those doing the wrong thing are being found out and held to account,” she says.
The highest amount recovered from any one business was $105,137 for 99 employees, mostly casual wait staff and kitchen staff and a mix of adults and juniors who were underpaid their overtime hours and penalty rates.
Following investigations, the Ombudsman issued 14 Compliance Notices, which resulted in the recoveries of $223,107 for 447 workers.
Five Infringement Notices for payslip and record-keeping breaches resulted in $26,650 in fines paid.
One business remains under investigation.
