FWO's surprise inspections also resulted in over $100,000 in fines paid
A total of $310,017 has been recovered by the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) for 370 employees of "cheap eats" venues who were underpaid in Adelaide's west
The FWO said it recovered a total of $272,991 for 332 workers by issuing 26 Compliance Notices. The rest of the money was recovered through voluntary backpay by employers without enforcement tools.
"These disappointing findings in Adelaide's western suburbs are part of a national Food Precincts Programme where we've often found that low-cost dining comes at the expense of workers' lawful wages," said Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth in a statement.
The largest amount recovered from a single business amounted to $65,986, which covered 10 underpaid restaurant employees, including cooks, kitchen hands, and waiting staff.
According to the FWO, these workers were underpaid penalty rates and minimum wage rates.
"Employers must follow all wage laws, including penalty rates, which generally serve as compensation for those working at times when most people are not. Those doing the wrong thing are being found out and held to account," Booth said.
The FWO uncovered the underpayments after carrying out surprise inspections in Bowden, Croydon, Allenby Gardens, Woodville, Grange, and Flinders Park in Adelaide.
It investigated 36 fast food outlets, restaurants, and cafés, with the businesses targeted based on intelligence from a range of sources.
Thirty-three investigations have been finalised, where the FWO discovered 26 businesses had breached workplace laws, including:
The FWO said it issued Infringement Notices to the businesses that breached pay slip and record-keeping regulations, leading to combined fines of $103,156 for nine businesses.
"Record-keeping is the bedrock of compliance and some employers have paid the price for failing to follow those laws," Booth said.
The FWO has been carrying out surprise inspections across Australia as part of its Food Precincts Programme to improve compliance in the fast food, restaurants, and cafés sector.
It has so far recovered about $576,000 in wages for Adelaide food workers. Previously, it also recovered $217,806 for underpaid employees in Cairns, Queensland, and another $58,391 for employees in south-east Melbourne.
