A caf located in Melbourne’s CBD has underpaid eight overseas workers including visa-holders almost $13,000.
An investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman found that the shop manager together with seven sandwich hands were paid flat rates of as little as $16 per hour over a period of 10 months.
Under the Fast Food Industry Award, the workers were entitled to a standard hourly rate of $19.59 and up to $43.10 on public holidays. The employer claimed that he had not been aware that minimum hourly rates and penalty rates applied to his business.
In addition to underpaying standard hourly rates, overtime, weekend and public holiday penalty rates, the employer also admitted to issuing incomplete time and wage records and pay slips.
Fair Work inspectors found that two workers had been underpaid almost $4,000 each. Other underpayments ranged between $254 and $1,836.