Hans Cafe in Perth has been fined $45,000 for underpaying workers. The Director, Tram Ham, was also personally fined $7,500 for not complying with the Fair Work Act.
The Federal Court of Australia found Mrs Han had breached Fair Work regulations by failing to pay staff wages totalling $30,000 to 27 staff members in 2014. The business also failed to keep timesheet records of hours worked by staff.
Mr Ham told the Fair Work Ombudsman at the time she would have to close her business if she was forced to pay weekend penalty rates – as required under the restaurant award.
Mrs Han pleaded with the FWO to consider her difficult personal circumstances when determining a penalty, and that she was “doing her best” to run the businesses on her own.
Justice Michael Barker, however, in his judgement handed down on Wednesday, described the contraventions of the Fair Work Act as serious.
Hans Investments was fined $45,000 while Mrs Han was fined $7,500 for not complying with the Fair Work Act.
Need help with HR and Fair Work compliance?
Talk to the HR Experts at Better HR.
