An Adelaide transport company has been penalised a total of $93,000 and been ordered to back-pay 10 truck drivers more than $374,000.
The Industrial Relations Court of South Australia has imposed the penalty and Order against Largs North-based Atkins Freight Services, which transports bulk petroleum products into the Northern Territory, NSW and Western Australia.
The Court decisions follow an investigation and legal action by the Fair Work Ombudsman in relation to underpayment of eight truck drivers and representing two other drivers with individual legal actions against the company.
Atkins Freight Services contravened workplace laws by underpaying 10 bulk fuel tanker drivers a total of $244,221 between 2007 and 2009. Seven of the drivers are no longer employed by the company.
The drivers were variously underpaid meal, travel and shift allowances, the minimum hourly rate and payments to cover expenses when absent from home overnight, as well as overtime, leave and public holiday entitlements.
In addition to the penalty, Industrial Magistrate Michael Ardlie earlier this year ordered Atkins Freight Services to back-pay the 10 drivers their outstanding wages, plus superannuation and interest totaling $374,487.
Source: Fair Work Media Release 5 July 2016
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