Gold Coast nightclub owner investigated for underpaid wages

An investigation has been launched by the Fair Work Ombudsman, into allegations of underpaid wages at a Gold Coast nightclub.

The Casablanca nightclub in Broadbeach is owned by Xlea Investments Pty Ltd, with sole director Alex Said and his wife Deanne Said as shareholders.

The nightclub was purchased in December 2020, at which point it was called Love.

It was rebranded as Casablanca and relaunched in February.

A number of employees have claimed that they worked long hours, some up to 21 hours a day, and are yet to be paid thousands in outstanding wages.

These complaints have been lodged with the Fair Work Ombudsman and are currently being investigated.

Mr Said denies that there are any outstanding payments due.

The Saids are no strangers to misconduct.

According to The Bulletin, it has been revealed that Mrs Said was the sole director and shareholder of Watervue Restaurants Group Pty Ltd (WRG) which in 2016 was placed into liquidation.

Liquidator Brendan Copeland lodged accounts that show WRG owed $400,278  to nine unsecured creditors including the Northern Beaches council.

WRG was deregistered by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in December 2017.

Northern Beaches Council wrote off the debt in August 2019 as it was “deemed by various finance, legal and recovery services to be irrecoverable”.

With regard to Casablanca, former venue manager Tim Cerche says he is owed approximately $2000 having only worked at the nightclub for two weeks.

“He was telling people to be like, ‘hey don’t be one of those people who is always hounding me for pay. You’ll get paid, I’ve got the money’,” Cerche said.

“I haven’t been paid a cent. It got to the point where I had a breakdown. I couldn’t pay my phone bill, I couldn’t pay my rent.”

Mr Cerche has laid a complaint with the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Mr Said countered by saying said he let Mr Cerche as he did not have the appropriate licences to run the venue.

Another venue manager Paul Winter says he was no longer wanted after four days.

“I’m owed $500. I tried to call and text after. He wouldn’t respond. After a while of me hounding him in regards to money, I finally got a message saying, ‘this is not Alex, don’t know what you are talking about’. I’m like, ‘mate, I spoke to you on this number before’.”

Mr Said claims Mr Winter applied for the position, but never worked at Casablanca.

Three companies in the marketing and cleaning sectors are also claiming unpaid fees.

Inquiries are ongoing.

Itit Jackson, 23rd March 2021