Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the Riverina was one of the worst regions for compliance. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Five Riverina growers and one labour hire provider have been issued compliance notices after surprise inspections by federal regulator the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO).
The FWO conducts unannounced visits of random workplaces across Australia to check whether employers are paying workers the correct wages and overtime rates, issuing pay slips and providing information on employee rights.
Inspections targeting the horticulture sector in the Riverina region were conducted in June and have so far resulted in the FWO pursuing 11 investigations of growers and 13 relating to labour hire providers.
The FWO has issued five compliance notices to as many Riverina growers, and one notice to a labour hire provider, resulting in combined back payments of $5710 to four employees. The regulator also handed out a $3300 fine to one grower.
FWO data published earlier this year indicates the Riverina region has the second highest rate of non-compliance in Australia, with 72 per cent of targeted employers found to have failed to meet obligations under federal workplace laws. Only Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley (83 per cent) have a higher breach rate.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the regulator was continuing to hold horticulture employers to account.
“Our inspectors have made surprise inspections this year in Coffs Harbour, the Riverina and the Sunraysia region, which have in recent years been among the least compliant horticulture regions nationally, checking that workers – often vulnerable visa holders – are getting paid correctly, and that employers are also complying with record-keeping and pay slip laws.
“So far we have ensured that more than $70,000 owed has been put where it belongs, in employees’ hands, and have issued close to $77,000 in fines for workplace law breaches.
“The majority of back payments and fines have been paid by labour hire providers. Some growers directly employing workers have also been found in breach.”
Ms Booth said it was concerning some growers felt they could outsource compliance to non-compliant labour hire providers.
“The FWO is committed to building a culture of compliance across the horticulture sector,” she said.
“We know we can’t do this alone, and we’re continuing to work closely with employer groups and unions to highlight how employers can get it right in the first place.
“We expect employers to know and meet their workplace obligations. They are encouraged to use our extensive range of free horticulture sector educational resources.”
If you know more about this story, call Oliver on 0498 843 181 or email: [email protected]
