Former director of Melbourne electrical services company faces court
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against the former director of a Melbourne electrical services company.
Facing court is Wilson Gonergbai Dahn, who was a director of Dahn Group Pty Ltd, which provided services including supplying and installing solar panels, before it went into liquidation.
The Fair Work Ombudsman received requests for assistance from five workers employed by the company for various periods between August 2021 and August 2023.
Three were young workers, including a Nepalese international student engaged as a sales manager aged 23 during his employment, an apprentice electrician aged 19-20 at the time, and an administration assistant aged 21 at the time.
The two other workers were engaged as an electrician and a trade assistant.
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated and a Fair Work Inspector issued two Compliance Notices to Dahn Group – in March and July, 2024 – after forming a belief that the company had underpaid the five workers.
The Inspector formed a belief that the workers were variously underpaid minimum wage rates for ordinary hours, allowances, overtime entitlements, Saturday penalty rates, and annual leave entitlements.
The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges Mr Dahn, without a reasonable excuse, was involved in failing to comply with the Compliance Notices, which required the calculation and rectification of any underpayments.
The entitlements were allegedly owed under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020, Miscellaneous Award 2020, Clerks – Private Sector Award 2020 and the Fair Work Act’s National Employment Standards.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the regulator would continue to take action where lawful requests such as Compliance Notices are not complied with.
“Business operators, including directors and others involved in workplace contraventions, should be aware that they can be held accountable even where a company has entered liquidation,” Ms Booth said.
“Employers should also be aware that taking action to protect young and migrant workers is a priority for the FWO.”
“Any employees with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact us for free advice and assistance.”
The Fair Work Ombudsman is seeking penalties against Mr Dahn in court for his alleged involvement in the failure to comply with the two Compliance Notices. He faces a penalty of up to $18,780 per breach.
A directions hearing is listed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court in Melbourne on 15 December 2026.
Employers and employees can visit www.fairwork.gov.au or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 for free advice and assistance about their rights and obligations in the workplace.
A free interpreter service is available on 13 14 50. Employees can also seek information from their employer and their union, if they are a union member.
Information is available for employees and employers on our young workers and students and apprentices and trainees webpages.
In 2024-25, the FWO secured total court penalties of more than $870,000 for failures to comply with Compliance Notices.
The Fair Work Ombudsman filed 88 litigations involving an alleged accessory in the two years to June 2025. The FWO secured total penalties of $5,143,749 against accessories across the same timeframe.
The Fair Work Ombudsman filed 171 litigations against employers involving visa holder workers, and secured $39 million in penalties in cases that have included visa holder workers, in the eight financial years to June 2025.
The FWO has an online anonymous report tool, including options to report in languages other than English, and information for migrant workers, including on protections for their visas, is available at our visa holders and migrants webpage.
Information is available for employees and employers on our young workers and students webpage.
The FWO provides a free online course to help employers understand what a Compliance Notice is and how to respond if they get one. The Compliance Notice course, among a suite of free interactive courses on offer for employers, managers and employees, is available in our online learning centre.
Employers can seek information from their employer association if they are a member, and also use the FWO’s pay calculator and Small Business Showcase.
