Job websites also told to do better in helping to advertise legal minimum wages
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has issued 151 infringement notices to employers, resulting in over $89,000 worth of fines as part of its crackdown on illegal job advertisements.
"Employers should do the right thing when recruiting their workforce – and those who break the law are paying the price," said Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth in a statement.
The FWO received in March 2023 the authority to issue fines to employers who post job ads that are offering illegally low rates of pay.
Among the cases it handled was a hospitality business that posted a job ad with an offer of just $7 to $10.50 an hour for full-time/part-time bar staff positions.
The business was fined $313, with the job ad removed online, after the FWO found it contravened the Fair Work Act.
"Advertising your intention to pay employees $7 per hour, for example, is precisely the sort of unacceptable conduct that the Fair Work Ombudsman wants to stamp out," Booth said.
As part of its crackdown, the FWO said it is also routinely searching public job ad websites for potential job ad violations.
"Dodgy job ads are unlawful, and some of them are scams. We want to stop dodgy ads before they appear," Booth said.
Job websites should also raise awareness among employers, recruiters, and the public on the importance of advertising legal minimum wages, according to the FWO.
"We are also requesting job websites make it easier for employers to put legal wage rates in their ads, such as by allowing advertising employers to enter their own specific wage figures rather than having preset ranges," Booth said.
"We want to stop exploitation at the earliest moment – and trying to take advantage of migrant workers who may be desperate for income or unaware of their rights is appalling."
