More than $750,000 recovered for long service entitlements
Offending companies in Victoria have been ordered to pay a total of $2.1 million in fines and costs in the last financial year for breaches involving underpayments and child employment laws.
The amount stems from 17 prosecutions launched by Wage Inspectorate Victoria in 2023-24, where Optus and Woolworths pleaded guilty to underpaying long service leave entitlements.
It also saw Cold Rock Shepparton, Red Rooster Wodonga, and T.K. Maxx Werribee pleading guilty to breaking child employment laws, according to the regulator.
Recovering long service entitlements
Wage Inspectorate Victoria added that it helped employees recover more than $750,000 in long service entitlements after conducting more than 100 investigations in the last financial year.
"Long service leave is a long-standing Australian entitlement, and we helped Victorians across a wide range of industries," said Robert Hortle, commissioner of Wage Inspectorate Victoria, in a statement. "Whether you're a full-time worker in finance or a casual retail employee, you deserve your rightful entitlements."
The government also issued 833 child employment licences during the first year of the child employment licensing scheme, which allows employees to hire multiple children under one licence.
It further audited more than 650 engagements to ensure hirers of owner-drivers were complying with the state's owner-driver and forestry contractor laws.
Offering assistance to understand laws
Hortle also said they directly helped 12,000 people understand the Victorian laws currently in place, from long service leave to child employment to owner driver laws.
They answered 10,127 calls, including 2,563 from employers, as well as 1,860 written enquiries.
"We continue to have a big focus on helping businesses understand the laws we enforce, from long service leave to child employment to owner driver laws," Hortle said.
