An Australian fishing company and its director have been penalised a total of almost $50,000 for underpaying four Indonesian crew tens of thousands of dollars.
The fishing company – formerly called Australian Wild Tuna Pty Ltd and recently renamed Stella Del Mare Pty Ltd – has received a $43,200 penalty after admitting it underpaid the four employees, who were in Australia on 457 skilled worker visas, a total of $43,481.
Company director and manager Angelo Maiorana, of Sydney, has been penalised a further $5120 for his role in the underpayments.
The penalties, imposed in the Federal Circuit Court, are the result of legal action by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Judge Nicholas Manousaridis ordered that part of the penalties be paid to the underpaid workers, who have been only partially back-paid, to rectify any entitlements that remain outstanding.
