Media releases

Young overseas backpackers recruited to work on mango farms near Darwin were allegedly underpaid almost $36,000 in just two months.

More than 90 Korean backpackers have been underpaid thousands of dollars while working on a farm in South-East Queensland.

Persistent underpayment matters involving Korean visa-holders have prompted the Fair Work Ombudsman to reach out to the Korean business community.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has sounded a follow-up warning to the operators of massage shops that flouting minimum pay rates and short-changing vulnerable overseas workers will not be tolerated.

A fast food operator in Brisbane is facing Court for allegedly short-changing two overseas workers more than $18,000 - despite previously being put on notice to pay staff correctly.

A western Sydney commercial flooring company has reimbursed an apprentice floor layer almost $25,000 after an investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman found he had been underpaid over two years.

A former Victorian restaurant operator has been penalised more than $50,000 and criticised for his “morally moribund” and “calculated and deceitful” exploitation of an Indian couple who were paid no wages for more than a year’s work.

Nine overseas workers employed by a sushi restaurant chain in Brisbane were short-changed more than $123,000 over 16 months, a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation has found.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against a Victorian plumbing business, alleging a young employee was short-changed more than $26,000 over a period of just three months.

The Fair Work Ombudsman today released the results of an investigation into alleged exploitation of staff working in karaoke bars in Melbourne and Perth.