A 7-Eleven retail store operator in Queensland has been fined more than $21,000 after underpaying an overseas worker.
The employee, an international student from Nepal, was short-changed a total of $21,298 when he worked at the store from January, 2013 until February, 2014.
The Federal Circuit Court has imposed a $6970 penalty against Mubin Ul Haider, who owned and operated the 7-Eleven at 243 Edwards Street in Brisbane until it closed last year.
Ul Haider admitted his business underpaid the young visa-holder his minimum wages, casual loadings and penalty rates.
The Court has ordered that the fine be paid to the former employee.
Fair Work inspectors discovered the underpayments after investigating a request for assistance from the employee, aged in his late 20s.
The Fair Work Ombudsman issued a Notice to Produce employment documents last year, but Ul Haider and his business did not comply.
A subsequent Compliance Notice requiring the underpayment to be rectified within 17 days and two follow-up letters were also ignored.
Under the Fair Work Act, business operators must comply with Notices to Produce and Compliance Notices issued by Fair Work inspectors – or make a court application for a review if they are seeking to challenge a Compliance Notice.
Another business in Adelaide was also penalised a total of $5000 in the Industrial Relations Court of SA after refusing to pay a $550 on-the-spot fine for failing to issue pay-slips to a 457 visa-holder on its staff.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman Media Release 4/8/2015
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