Sunshine Coast farms and eateries are getting surprise inspections from the Fair Work Ombudsman this week, to check that workers are getting the correct pay.
Inspectors are inspecting about 35 businesses in the region, targeting growers, labour-hire companies and food outlets to assess compliance with workplace laws.
They are assessing about 20 farms and labour-hire companies between Noosa and the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
The farms being inspected grow a range of produce including berries, bananas, avocados, citrus and ginger.
About 15 eateries also face investigations in food precincts across the suburbs of Noosa Heads, Sunrise Beach and Noosaville.
The businesses include a mix of high-end restaurants and ‘cheap eat’ venues.
Inspectors are speaking with business owners, labour-hire operators, managers and employees onsite, and requesting records.
The regulator is acting after receiving intelligence regarding potential non-compliance in the region such as alleged non-payment for time worked; unlawfully low flat rates; below-award rates to visa holders; unpaid casual, weekend and public holiday loadings and leave entitlements; unauthorised deductions; and pay slip breaches.
Businesses were selected to be assessed for compliance based on intelligence such as anonymous reports to the FWO, or because they employ visa holder workers who can be vulnerable.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said protecting vulnerable workers and boosting compliance in the agriculture and fast food, restaurant and cafe sectors were priorities for the regulator.
“Inspectors on the Sunshine Coast are busy this week visiting farms and eateries to speak with employees and hold employers to account if they are not meeting their obligations,” she said.
“We will take enforcement action where appropriate. We also act to ensure employers understand their legal responsibilities, including record-keeping and the minimum wage guarantee for pieceworkers in horticulture.
“We know the agriculture and fast food, restaurant and cafe sectors employ many young workers and visa holders who can be vulnerable to exploitation, as they are often unaware of their workplace rights and unwilling to speak up. Migrant workers may also have limited English skills.
“Employers who need assistance meeting their obligations should contact the FWO directly for free advice, and we also urge workers with concerns to reach out to us.”
Inspectors are on alert for low rates of pay that breach the relevant awards (where applicable) and industrial instruments, including with regard to piece rates in the Horticulture Award; unauthorised deductions; unpaid penalty rates; record-keeping and payslip breaches; and contraventions of the Fair Work Act’s National Employment Standards including failure to provide the Casual Employment Information Statements and Fair Work Information Statement.
The horticulture inspections are part of the regulator’s national Agriculture Strategy, which started in 2021. Under the strategy, the FWO is targeting more than 350 businesses in 15 ‘hot spot’ regions over two-and-a-half years where there are identified high risks of non-compliance. Industry sectors being investigated include viticulture, horticulture, meat processing and agriculture.
The fast food, restaurant and cafe audits are part of a national program that has recently recovered more than $680,000 in unpaid wages for workers in Melbourne’s inner south and inner west food precincts.
The FWO has interactive tools to help employers and employees in the fast food, restaurant and cafe sector, and for any franchisees.
The FWO’s Horticulture Showcase has self-audit tools, templates for employers hiring pieceworkers and a range of resources for migrant workers, including in more than 30 languages. It also includes information on the protections for visa holders.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has an agreement with the Department of Home Affairs, called the Assurance Protocol, where visa holders with work rights can ask for help without fear of visa cancellation.
Employers can also use FWO’s pay calculator and Small Business Showcase.
Employers and employees can visit Fair Work or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 for free advice and assistance. An interpreter service is available on 13 14 50.
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