National Retail Industry Campaign
Date: 15 November 2011
Campaign type: National
Campaign summary: The Fair Work Ombudsman has successfully completed the National Retail Industry Campaign. In planning the campaign we consulted widely with retail industry and union stakeholders about education strategies and materials most appropriate for the needs of the industry. Industry and union stakeholders included Australian Retailers Association (ARA), National Retail Association (NRA), National Independent Retailers Association (NIRA), United Retail Federation(URF), Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) and Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA).
A number of educational and promotional activities occurred during the information and awareness phase including the launch of the retail web page, correspondence being sent to approximately 20 000 industry employers and the distribution of fliers directing employers to the web page.
In February 2011, 2090 employers were selected for audit as part of the campaign. Of the 1866 audits which have been completed, 1374 (74%) employers were found to be compliant and 492 (26%) were in contravention. The majority of the contraventions identified related to the underpayment of wages. To date the campaign has recovered $585 399 for 755 employees.
Campaign result: Retail Industry Campaign Final Report (pdf 1.6MB) 
National Cleaning Services Campaign 2010
Date: 30 October 2010
Campaign type: National
Number of businesses audited: 315
Money recovered: $242 451
Campaign summary: The National Cleaning Services Campaign aimed to educate the contract cleaning industry about, and promote compliance with, the Cleaning Services Award 2010, the Fair Work Act 2009, the Fair Work Regulations 2009, and the National Employment Standards (NES).
The education phase of the campaign commenced in September 2010, with the Fair Work Ombudsman directing employers and employees to the dedicated cleaning industry web page on the FWO’s internet site. In November 2010 Fair Work Inspectors commenced the audit phase of the campaign, assessing compliance with time and wage records. Fair Work Inspectors also examined contract for service arrangements.
Of the 315 finalised audits, we found 117 employers to be in contravention. Many, 53%, of the non compliant employers had monetary contraventions whilst 36% had non monetary contraventions. A small number of non compliant employers (11%) had both monetary and non monetary contraventions.
In relation to examining contract for service arrangements, we have referred in excess of 60 matters to the FWO’s Sham Contracting Operational Intervention, whereby further investigations are being conducted regarding the contractual relationship.
As at 3 June 2011 the campaign has recovered $242,451 for 621 employees.
Campaign result: National Cleaning Services Campaign Final Report (pdf 524KB)