Melbourne’s Bakers Boutique & Patisserie will face court for breaching workplace laws.

The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges Gothic Downs Pty Ltd underpaid two former employees.

The employees worked at the Meadow Heights and Caroline Springs outlets from 2016 to 2018 and contacted the Ombudsman for assistance with queries over their pay.

Inspectors found the employees were underpaid their minimum wages, early morning shift rates, weekend and public holiday penalty rates and overtime rates under the General Retail Industry Award 2010 and leave entitlements under the Fair Work Act 2009.

Two compliance notices were issued, however the business failed to calculate and back-pay the outstanding wages and entitlements, including superannuation.

The company and its sole director Giuseppe Conforto will now face court, with the Fair Work Ombudsman alleging Gothic Downs Pty Ltd committed two contraventions of the Fair Work Act.

The company faces penalties of up to $31,500 per contravention from the Court, while Conforto faces penalties of up to $6,300 per contravention for his alleged involvement.

The Fair Work Ombudsman is also seeking a Court Order requiring Gothic Downs to comply with the Compliance Notices, which includes rectifying underpayments in full, plus superannuation and interest.

The matter will be heard in court on 6 August.

Image credit: Tasha Be

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