The former manager of a Queensland resort restaurant is facing court again, with the Fair Work Ombudsman alleging he has continued to be involved in underpaying young overseas workers.
Facing the Federal Circuit Court is Jia Ning Wang, former manager of the Fire and Stone Restaurant on Moreton Island, located at the Tangalooma Island Resort. Also facing court is the company that owns the restaurant, Auspac Hospitality Management Pty Ltd.
The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges Wang and Auspac underpaid nine employees — mostly young overseas workers — at the Fire and Stone Restaurant last year.
The FWO alleges breaches of record-keeping and pay slip laws with respect to those nine employees and breaches of pay slip laws with respect to a further seven employees.
The FWO also alleges the nine employees were underpaid a total of $2,239 in minimum wages and entitlements under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2010 between March and October 2017. The alleged underpayment has been rectified.
Many of the employees were in Australia on working holiday visas.
The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges that Wang was responsible for setting pay rates, issuing pay slips and approving and/or processing wage payment to employees during the period from March to August 2017.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has twice previously secured penalties in court against Wang and the former operator of the Fire and Stone Restaurant, Golden Vision Food and Beverage Services Pty Ltd, a company that was owned by Mr Wang.
Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said Inspectors investigated after receiving an underpayment allegation from an Auspac employee.
“It is very disappointing to commence legal proceedings against an individual for a third time for alleged breaches of workplace laws,” says Parker. “Mr Wang has twice previously been penalised in court for significant breaches of workplace laws yet we allege he has continued to engage in non-compliant behaviour.
“The Fair Work Ombudsman is committed to holding business operators to account, particularly when disputes arise involving vulnerable workers. Australia’s minimum pay rates apply to everyone — they are not negotiable and any workers with concerns should contact us.”
The Fair Work Ombudsman is seeking penalties against Wang and Auspac Hospitality Management for the alleged breaches.
Wang faces penalties of up to $12,600 per breach and Auspac Hospitality Management faces penalties of up to $63,000 per breach.
The Fair Work Ombudsman is also seeking Court Orders requiring the company to commission workplace relations training for Wang and other senior managers and to commission an audit of its compliance with workplace laws.
A directions hearing is listed in the Federal Circuit Court in Brisbane on 19 February 2019.
