Fair Work blitz finds Canberra businesses underpaying workers

Monday, 4 Jul 2016 09:41:44

A crackdown by the workplace watchdog has uncovered businesses in Canberra's north underpaying their employees - one by more than $27,000.

The Fair Work Ombudsman checked the books of 76 local businesses in the ACT.

Nineteen were asked to back-pay a total of $16,385 to 24 of their workers who had been short-changed.

The operator of a Nando's restaurant was found to have underpaid staff by more than $27,000 and signed an enforceable undertaking.

Inspectors issued a letter of caution to another business for breaches of workplace laws.

The Fair Work Ombudsman said 57 per cent of businesses were compliant with all their workplace responsibilities.

Seventy-five per cent were paying their employees correctly and 76 per cent were compliant with their record-keeping and pay-slip obligations.

Businesses were randomly chosen from Canberra's north for the blitz, including places in Braddon, Dickson, Gungahlin and Macquarie.

The industries involved ranged from retail to hairdressing, accommodation and food outlets.

Those found to be non-compliant will be re-audited.

AustraliaPlus