The operator of Perth cafe Shimizu Harbour Town is facing court for allegedly falsifying staff payment and time records.
The Fair Work Ombudsman began investigating Quickpoint Pty Ltd and the company’s sole director Augustine Lawrence Chia after receiving an anonymous report.
The company was issued with a notice to produce documents.
It’s believed Chia provided fake time slips to inspectors on two occasions after receiving the notice.
The slips showed workers had been paid up to $29 an hour, however the company only paid the workers between $15-16 an hour.
It’s also alleged Chia encouraged the employees to tell inspectors they had been paid $29 per hour and provide officials with the false pay slips.
Quickpoint has since back-paid the workers, and the Fair Work Ombudsman has confirmed it is not seeking penalties in relation to any underpayment matters.
However, the Ombudsman is seeking penalties against Quickpoint and Chia for multiple alleged contraventions of workplace laws relating to false records and pay slips.
The company faces maximum penalties up to $63,000 per contravention, with Chia facing up to $12,600 per contravention.
“Employers need to be aware that we have experienced inspectors who have various methods for determining whether the records they are provided during an investigation are legitimate,” said Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker.
A directions hearing has been listed for 28 January.
Image credit: Fair Work – Twitter
