25 June 2026

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against a Victorian construction company and its director for an alleged breach affecting a young worker.

Facing court are Mann Consolidating Industries Pty Ltd, which is based in Geelong, and its sole director Harrison Christopher Mann.

The regulator investigated after receiving a request for assistance from a young worker Mann Consolidating Industries employed as a construction worker on a full-time basis between January 2022 and October 2025.

A Fair Work Inspector issued a Compliance Notice to Mann Consolidating Industries in January 2026 after forming a belief the company had not paid the worker’s minimum wages for ordinary hours, overtime entitlements, and allowances during a 2 week period in August 2025 – during which the employee was not paid anything at all – and failed to pay the employee their accrued annual leave entitlements when the employment came to an end.

The worker was aged 21 at the time of the alleged contraventions.

The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges Mann Consolidating Industries, without a reasonable excuse, failed to fully comply with the Compliance Notice, which required it to calculate and back-pay the worker’s entitlements. It is alleged Mr Mann was involved in the contravention.

It is alleged the total amount the company was required to pay to comply with the Compliance Notice was $20,094.

The entitlements were allegedly owed under the Building and Construction General On-Site Award 2020 and the Fair Work Act’s National Employment Standards.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the regulator would continue to enforce workplace laws and take employers to court where lawful requests are not complied with.

“Where employers do not comply, we will take appropriate action to protect employees. A court can order an employer to pay penalties and make payments to workers,” Ms Booth said.

“$20,000 is a significant sum for any worker, and especially a young worker.

“Employers should be aware that improving compliance in the building and construction industry and taking action to deter breaches impacting young workers are priorities for the Fair Work Ombudsman.

“Any employees with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact us for free advice and assistance.”

The FWO is seeking penalties in court for the alleged failure to comply with the Compliance Notice. Mann Consolidating Industries Pty Ltd faces a penalty of up to $99,000 and Mr Mann faces a penalty of up to $19,800.

The regulator is also seeking an order requiring the company comply with the Compliance Notice by paying the amount allegedly owed to the worker, plus superannuation and interest.

A directions hearing is listed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court in Melbourne on 4 August 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. An interpreter service is available on 13 14 50. Employees can also seek information from their employer or their union, if they are a union member.

In 2024-25, the FWO secured total court penalties of more than $870,000 for failures to comply with Compliance Notices.

Information is available for employees and employers at our apprentices and young workers and students webpages. The FWO recently reported it had recovered more than $750,000 in back-pay for apprentices and trainees in the building and construction sector in the 15 months to March 2026.

Resources, including for independent contractors, are available on our building and construction sector 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.