Fair Work Ombudsman launches wage theft compliance blitz of Sydney restaurants

Cafes, dining places and quickly food stuff shops in the Haymarket, Chinatown, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, Surry Hills and Darlinghurst precincts have been put on observe to make confident they have been paying staff appropriately.

Truthful Get the job done Ombudsman inspectors will this 7 days fork out surprise visits to well-known interior-town eating precincts with a concentrate on firms that utilize visa holders.

The inspectors will assess compliance with Australian employment laws by talking with enterprise owners, administrators and workforce and requesting documents.

Fair Function Ombudsman Sandra Parker mentioned the regulator experienced “received intelligence” – together with from nameless tip-offs – that places to eat in the target parts may well be breaching workplace laws.

Ms Parker reported the information obtained by the FWO indicated dining places in these suburbs utilized lots of visa holders who could have constrained English expertise or understanding of their rights and be susceptible to exploitation.

“All employees have the exact primary office entitlements, regardless of nationality and visa position,” she mentioned.

“Protecting vulnerable staff these types of as visa holders and improving compliance in the speedy food items, cafe and cafe sector are ongoing priorities for the FWO.”

Ms Parker promised companies carrying out the improper factor by their staff members would be held to account, saying the FWO would contemplate enforcement motion wherever proper.

These shock inspections occur as portion of a nationwide compliance system that has specific food items precincts throughout the state and recovered hundreds of countless numbers of dollars in unpaid wages.

The FWO in December noted it had recovered more than $580,000 from enterprises in Hobart and recouped additional than $189,000 from enterprises in Adelaide’s Chinatown.