Fair Work Ombudsman launches wage theft compliance blitz of Sydney restaurants

Cafes in just one metropolis have been informed to prepare for a large compliance blitz aimed at stamping out a practice that exploits workers.

Some 50 Sydney eateries will be qualified in a compliance blitz soon after the industrial watchdog was tipped off to wage theft fears.

Cafes, places to eat and quickly food stuff stores in the Haymarket, Chinatown, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, Surry Hills and Darlinghurst precincts have been place on observe to make sure they have been having to pay staff accurately.

Honest Get the job done Ombudsman inspectors will this week fork out surprise visits to well known internal-metropolis dining precincts with a aim on companies that use visa holders.

The inspectors will evaluate compliance with Australian employment legislation by talking with enterprise homeowners, administrators and employees and requesting data.

Reasonable Do the job Ombudsman Sandra Parker mentioned the regulator had “received intelligence” – including from anonymous suggestion-offs – that dining establishments in the concentrate on areas could be breaching workplace laws.

Ms Parker explained the information obtained by the FWO indicated places to eat in these suburbs utilized numerous visa holders who could have confined English techniques or being familiar with of their rights and be susceptible to exploitation.

“All staff have the identical primary place of work entitlements, regardless of nationality and visa status,” she stated.

“Protecting susceptible employees such as visa holders and improving compliance in the quick foodstuff, restaurant and cafe sector are ongoing priorities for the FWO.”

Ms Parker promised businesses executing the wrong matter by their workers would be held to account, declaring the FWO would contemplate enforcement action exactly where appropriate.

These surprise inspections come as component of a countrywide compliance method that has targeted foodstuff precincts throughout the place and recovered hundreds of 1000’s of pounds in unpaid wages.

The FWO in December described it had recovered a lot more than $580,000 from companies in Hobart and recouped much more than $189,000 from enterprises in Adelaide’s Chinatown.

Read through associated subject areas:Sydney
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