Fair Work inspectors will be randomly auditing hundreds of businesses within Melbourne’s Dandenong region, including foodservice operators, as part of a new campaign.
Inspectors will be checking that employers are paying the correct minimum hourly rates, penalty rates, allowances and loadings, as well as providing employees appropriate meal breaks. Record-keeping and pay-slip obligations will also be monitored.
The three-month campaign will target businesses located in and around the Dandenong, Dandenong South and Springvale regions with a focus on cafes, restaurants and fast food operators along with a range of businesses from other sectors.
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says that the Agency has received repeated requests for assistance from workers in the Dandenong region, and that one of the aims of the program is to ensure that employers are aware of their workplace responsibilities.
“It’s important we check that workers are being paid correctly, but we also want to be pro-active about ensuring employers understand their obligations,” said James.
“Inspectors will make face-to-face visits to dozens of businesses during the campaign so they can offer employers tailored assistance to rectify any non-compliance issues and put processes in place to ensure they get it right in the future.”