Din Tai Fung is facing the Federal Court for allegedly underpaying 17 workers. The staff, from Sydney and Melbourne restaurants, are allegedly owed $157,000.
The court heard the fake payroll listed less working hours at a higher pay rate.
The court also heard that a payroll officer was instructed by managers to make a fake payroll so it wouldn’t be known that staff were being underpaid, a court heard yesterday.
Victoria Brigden, barrister for the Fair Work Ombudsman told the court the payroll officer who was employed by the company between 2016-2018 admitted to being told to create separate payrolls.
The court heard that one payroll with accurate records of staff pay and working hours was kept along with another fake one, that would show staff working less hours at a higher pay rate.
It’s reported that the company underpaid young migrant workers and used cash payment incentives to stop them from complaining.
The Din Tai Fung restaurants are famous worldwide for dumplings. One of its restaurants in Hong Kong was awarded a Michelin star in 2010.
Since 2008 it has opened 10 restaurant venues in Sydney and Melbourne.
