Eateries grilled as FWO and ATO inspect Gold Coast food outlets

Gold Coast fast food outlets, restaurants and cafés have received surprise visits from the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) this week.

Yarra Valley compliance issues draw regulators to Healesville to meet growers and labour hire firms

In the wake of a significant compliance operation by the Labour Hire Authority (LHA) in February, and a concerning 2025 report by the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO), the heads of the FWO and LHA held a forum with local growers, industry groups and labour hire companies on 17 March.

Sham contracting in the spotlight

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) are ramping up their focus on sham contracting, with community insights and intelligence revealing concerning patterns of behaviour across several industries.

Landscaping and gardening materials company faces court

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against a NSW-based company that manufactures and supplies landscaping and gardening materials for allegedly underpaying four workers more than $35,000.

Former ramen restaurant operators penalised for deliberate Compliance Notices breaches

The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured a total of $42,799 in penalties and back-pay orders against the former operators of multiple Japanese noodle eateries in Victoria, for breaches affecting young and migrant workers.

Take-away food operator penalised

The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured $12,375 in penalties in court against the operator of a take-away food business in Echuca, regional Victoria, after a failure to comply with a Compliance Notice that related in part to JobKeeper payments.

Migrant worker allegedly subjected to unlawful cashback scheme

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against two former directors and a former bookkeeper of a real estate industry company for their alleged involvement in requiring a migrant worker to repay wages under an unlawful cashback scheme.

Uniting Communities signs Enforceable Undertaking

Uniting Communities Incorporated will return more than $2.6 million in underpayments, including interest and superannuation, to about 1,500 current and former underpaid staff as part of entering into an Enforceable Undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Sydney restaurateur allegedly involved in knowingly underpaying migrant workers $162,000

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against a Sydney restaurateur for allegedly knowingly underpaying dozens of migrant workers more than $162,000, despite having been put on notice.

Fair Work Ombudsman signs EU with underpaying Cairns restaurant

The Fair Work Ombudsman has signed an Enforceable Undertaking with trustees of a Cairns restaurant which has back-paid nearly $87,000 to 76 employees, including vulnerable visa holders.