Four young apprentices at a café in Devonport have been reimbursed $16,000 after the Federal Workplace Ombudsman found they were being underpaid.

A 20-year-old man was short-changed $7439, a 21-year-old woman $6119, a 16-year-old male youth $2112 and a 22-year-old female $578.

Workplace inspectors found the four were being underpaid weekend and overtime penalty rates because their employer had incorrectly interpreted their award.

The discovery was made during audits of 54 businesses during a joint campaign between the Federal Workplace Ombudsman and Skills Tasmania.

Inspectors found that nine businesses (16 per cent) in the hospitality, retail and child-care industries were in breach of workplace laws relating to apprentices.

Six were in breach over pay slip and record keeping requirements, two for unpaid work trials and one for underpayments.

Acting Tasmanian State Director Ray Smith says no further action will be taken against the café because the underpayments were deemed to be inadvertent and the employer had voluntarily rectified the problem.

However, Smith added, “Employers should be aware that we take breaches of workplace laws relating to apprentices very seriously and if we do go to court, there are penalties of up to $33,000.”

He also added that investigations into some issues identified in the campaign were continuing but it was unlikely any litigation would result because employers had been voluntarily rectifying the issues. “It is pleasing that the large majority of businesses audited were complying with their obligations to apprentices under workplace laws,” he said.