FWO keeping a watchful eye on Melbourne food outlets after widespread non-compliance

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) is inspecting fast-food outlets, restaurants, and cafés in Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs this week to ensure workers are getting the correct pay.

FWO inspectors are stepping up their investigations in Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs, targeting 27 food businesses within the Manningham City Council suburbs of Doncaster, Doncaster East, Bulleen, Templestowe, Park Orchards, and Warrandyte.

These 27 businesses were chosen for inspection based on intelligence reports from anonymous individuals, raising alarm bells on their payroll compliance. Businesses that had prior history of alleged non-compliance or employment of vulnerable staff, such as young people and visa holders, are also being targeted in the investigations.

The investigations include the FWO speaking with business owners, managers, and employees on the ground and requesting documented records.

This is all a part of a larger program that the FWO has deployed to ensure that businesses are, in fact, complying with workplace law and not taking advantage of their workers – who oftentimes are in vulnerable positions.

Commenting on the program, Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the agency continues to prioritise assisting vulnerable or “at risk” workers, such as young people and visa holders, who fit that vulnerable worker mould and are heavily represented in the fast-food, restaurants, and cafés sector.

“Fair Work inspectors will be on the ground in Melbourne’s Manningham area this week, holding employers to account if they are not following workplace laws,” said Booth.

“The fast-food, restaurants and cafés sector employs many young workers and visa holders who are unaware of their workplace rights or unwilling to speak up. Unfortunately, we’ve found a high rate of non-compliance through our Food Precincts Program inspections nationwide; it seems that employees often pay the price of low-cost dining.”

Melbourne has a bit of a stained past when it comes to contraventions such as underpaid base rates and penalty rates; employees not getting the right meal breaks; not getting paid for all hours worked, and not receiving payslips.

For example, previous inspections in Melbourne’s inner south and inner west led to $684,543 in wages recovered for 1,004 workers. Overall, the FWO has recovered $1.2 million for workers in the Melbourne area, specifically in the fast-food, restaurants and cafés sector.

“We urge workers with concerns about their wages and entitlements to reach out to us – including anonymously if preferred. Employers should access our free tools and resources to ensure they’re meeting their obligations, or contact the FWO directly for free advice,” said Booth.