Media releases

The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured a total of $177,000 in court penalties against a Sydney accounting and financial services company and its owner-operator after they required a migrant worker to pay them amounts that covered her whole wage as part of an unlawful cashback scheme.

The University of Queensland has signed an Enforceable Undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman after underpayments of about $11 million, including interest and superannuation, to 16,382 staff.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has recovered more than $5.3 million for nearly 3,600 underpaid direct care employees working for aged care businesses after investigations.

Employers are paying the price for ads offering unlawful wage rates, with fines up 18 per cent in the last year. And repeat or significant offenders are warned they could face court action.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against the former director of a Melbourne electrical services company.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against the operator of a regional Queensland café and its manager.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against a Melbourne plumber for allegedly knowingly underpaying a migrant worker more than $35,000 and making and keeping false records.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against the operators of a labour hire company operating in NSW’s horticulture industry for alleged breaches affecting two migrant fruit pickers.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured a total of $180,288 in court penalties against a former Queensland labour hire provider and its manager following “an attempt to fraudulently mislead and deceive” a Fair Work Inspector.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against a Perth bakery operator for multiple alleged contraventions, including physically obstructing a Fair Work Inspector.