The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured a $15,984 in court against a former operator of a takeaway business in Townsville, Queensland.
The penalty has been imposed against Vanessa Joan Housego who formerly owned and operated Riverway Burgers, which is no longer trading.
Housego had failed to comply with Compliance Notices requiring the back-payment of entitlements to six workers who had been employed at the business.
The regulator conducted an investigation after receiving a request for assistance from the six workers who were employed for various periods between March and August 2020.
Three of the workers were aged 18 and under at the time of employment, including one aged 15.
A Fair Work Inspector issued four compliance notices to Housego between July 2020 and February 2021 after forming the belief that the workers were not paid entitlements under the Fast Food Industry Award 2010 and Fair Work Act 2009.
It was believed that two workers were not paid at all for work performed while the other four were variously underpaid entitlements including minimum rates for ordinary hours, casual rates, and penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work.
The Court has ordered that Housego fully comply with Compliance Notices including back paying all workers in full.
So far Housego has partially back paid only one worker.
Image Credit: Townsville Bulletin
