Famous dumpling restaurant caught underpaying staff
A payroll officer was instructed by managers at a famous dumpling restaurant chain to make a fake payroll so it wouldn’t be known that staff were being underpaid, a court heard yesterday.
Din Tai Fung dumpling restaurant has been accused of underpaying 17 staff a total of $157,000 at its Sydney and Melbourne restaurants
Victoria Brigden, barrister for the Fair Work Ombudsman told the court the payroll officer who was employed by the company between 2016-2018 admitted to being told to create separate payrolls.
The court heard that one payroll with accurate records of staff pay and working hours was kept along with another fake one, that would show staff working less hours at a higher pay rate.
It’s reported that the company underpaid young migrant workers and used cash payment incentives to stop them from complaining.
“We say it was to deceive authorities,” Brigden told the court.
“Either the FWO in investigating underpayments and compliance with the Fair Work Act or immigration authorities regarding hours worked by people holding visas, as there are strict conditions on that. Possibly there is a tax element also.”
The Din Tai Fung restaurants are famous worldwide for dumplings. One of its restaurants in Hong Kong was awarded a Michelin star in 2010.
Since 2008 it has opened 10 restaurant venues in Sydney and Melbourne.
Irit Jackson, 14th September 2022
