Fair Work blitz targets Queensland accommodation providers
The Fair Work Ombudsman is to undertake an audit campaign within the Queensland accommodation industry. The campaign will audit up to 125 hotels, motels and caravan parks
over the next three months as part of a new education and compliance campaign.
The primary aim of this campaign is for the FWO to “educate employers and employees about their workplace rights and responsibilities” and to “promote compliance” with the workplace laws. This includes the Fair Work Act 2009, Fair Work Regulations 2009, the modern Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2010 and the National Employment Standards.
Fair Work Inspectors from the Queensland offices will select a random sample of employers in the accommodation industry for a compulsory compliance audit. This audit will aim to ensure that employers are meeting their obligations in relation to minimum wages and penalty rates and also to check pay slip and record keeping requirements. FWO inspectors will write to, call or visit businesses selected for an audit and explain their requirements, and the records or documents the business will be required to produce.
Inspectors will audit records of businesses in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, Airlie Beach, Bundaberg, Cairns, Dalby, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Mt Isa, Rockhampton, Roma, Stanthorpe, St George, Toowoomba and Townsville. Businesses that do not comply with any aspect of the commonwealth workplace laws will, in the first instance, be “encouraged” to voluntarily rectify the matter. Further compliance action will be taken in the case of wilful contravention of the workplace laws.
“The importance of ensuring correct rates of pay, applicable penalty rates, minimum engagements, record keeping and other obligations under the modern award and workplace laws cannot be stressed enough. I would also encourage anyone who is not a member of our Association to make contact with us to arrange any assistance that is required,” said Richard Munro, chief executive officer of the Accommodation Association of Australia. The AAA is currently organising a series of educational forums and webinars for Queensland accommodation operators.
The Ombudsman says the accommodation industry is one of the main sources of underpayment complaints, while nationally it generated the highest number of calls last year. In 2011, the Ombudsman recovered more than $6 million in back pay for workers in Queensland.
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