EMPLOYEES in the West have been back-paid more than $47,000 after a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation.
The authority recently discovered 47 workers at a transport industry business in Sunshine West were underpaid wages, overtime rates, penalty rates and allowances across 12 months.
The staff members were reimbursed a total of $39,700 after the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) intervened in their cases.
In a statement, the FWO said the underpayment “was the result of the employer’s lack of awareness of the entitlements payable to their employees under the applicable award”.
The FWO has also recovered $7700 for a worker at a security industry business in Tarneit.
The employee was underpaid wages and annual leave entitlements after being “misclassified” as an independent contractor.
The Acting Fair Work Ombudsman, Michael Campbell, said both businesses cooperated with Fair Work inspectors and the employees were reimbursed all wages owed without the need for further action.
“We have a flexible, fair approach and our preference is to work with employers to educate them and help them to voluntary resolve issues,” Mr Campbell said.
“These businesses have now put processes in place to ensure the errors will not happen again.”
The Fair Work Ombudsman’s website – www.fairwork.gov.au – contains tools to help business-owners determine the pay rates and entitlements,
Employers or employees seeking assistance or further information should visit the website or contact the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94. An interpreter service is available by calling 13 14 50.
