Workers in Sydney’s South and South Western suburbs back-paid $123,000

Workers in Sydney’s South and South-Western suburbs have been back-paid a total of $123,200 following recent intervention by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

The largest recovery was $30,000 for a professional at a Hurstville business who was underpaid wages and penalty rates between 2007 and 2012.

After a Fair Work inspector contacted the business and explained its obligations, the employee was reimbursed all money owed without the need for further action against the employer.

Other recent recoveries include:

• $16,200 for an administration worker at Yagoona underpaid redundancy entitlements upon termination of employment,
• $13,000 for a Botany factory worker underpaid wages between 2009 and 2010,
• $10,900 for a tradesman at Sylvania underpaid wages and allowances between 2006 and 2012,
• $10,100 for a Roselands manager underpaid annual leave entitlements upon termination of employment,
• $9700 for a health professional at Eastlakes underpaid annual leave entitlements upon termination of employment,
• $8900 for a Fairfield apprentice underpaid wages, penalty rates, annual leave entitlements and annual leave loading,
• $7200 for a foreman in the Sutherland area underpaid long service leave entitlements,
• $6500 for a Chipping Norton truck driver underpaid long service entitlements upon termination of employment,
• $5500 for a tradesman at Engadine underpaid wages between 2011 and 2012, and
• $5200 for a Peakhurst clerk underpaid annual leave entitlements upon termination of employment.

Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson says when Fair Work inspectors identify a problem and contact a business most employers check their records, realise a problem has occurred, and fix it immediately.

“When we find mistakes, we’re here to assist and give practical advice to employers on how to voluntarily resolve issues,” Mr Wilson says.

“These businesses have now corrected the errors that led to the underpayments and put processes in place to ensure they will not happen again.”

The Fair Work Ombudsman recouped $17.4 million in back-pay for 5066 workers in NSW/ACT last financial year.

Between July 1, 2009 and 30 September, 2012, the Fair Work Ombudsman recovered a total of $100.2 million in back-pay for more than 56,000 unpaid workers in Australia.

Since March, 2006, the Fair Work Ombudsman and its predecessor agencies have recouped a total of $185.5 million for 124,000 workers.

Employers and employees seeking information and advice should visit www.fairwork.gov.au or call the Infoline on 13 13 94 from 8am-6pm weekdays.

Source: Fair Work Ombudsman, 28 November 2012