Rockpool in strife over wage theft claims

Celebrity chef Neil Perry has rejected claims his Rookpool restaurant empire is ripping off migrant workers.

Mr Perry says his business is operating fully within employment laws.

Mr Perry has gone on the attack following a damaging report in Fairfax media over the weekend showing some chefs working for Rockpool Dining Group were earning $15 per hour some weeks, well below the minimum wage, while working up to 30 hours’ unpaid overtime.

Fairfax cited company emails advising workers not to record the actual hours they worked, in contravention of workplace laws. Workers were told not to record the actual hours they worked when applying for days in lieu or when they work on public holidays.

It reported underpayments at two of the group's restaurant businesses, Sake and Munich Brauhaus.

Perry said Rockpool Dining Group offered its employees, including those on working visas, opportunities to learn and grow their skills in restaurants.

“It’s a sad day when a few people try to undermine the amazing work of so many who contribute to making our restaurants great; especially when we operate fully within the employment laws of this country,” Mr Perry said in a statement on Sunday.

Mr Perry opened Rockpool in 1989 and sold it to to Quadrant private equity-backed Urban Purveyor Group in late 2016 for a reported $65 million.

With the sale, he became a significant shareholder and the group's chief brand and culinary director.

Rockpool Group’s chief executive Thomas Pash said the Fairfax report was based on questionable documents.

“These allegations are spurious, inaccurate and give an incomplete picture of our practices,” Pash said in a statement.

 “Our permanent employees are remunerated in line with, and in many cases well above, the industry award.”

He said the company’s time attendance system recorded hours worked to manage rosters, assign days off in lieu and overtime which was paid in line with award rates.

Leon Getler 2nd July 2018.

image credit- Wolter Peeters