Motel operators face court after Filipino workers allegedly short-changed more than $261,000
The operators of two motels in NSW and Victoria are facing court for allegedly short-changing four Filipino workers more than $261,000.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal proceedings against husband-and-wife Michael and Rowena Parkes and their company NSW Motel Management Services.
They operate the Comfort Inn Country Plaza at Halls Gap, in Victoria, and the Quality Inn Country Plaza at Queanbeyan, in NSW.
The couple also formerly ran the Comfort Inn Country Plaza at Taree, in NSW.
The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges NSW Motel Management Services Pty Ltd recruited two Filipino couples to work in Australia on 457 skilled worker visas.
All four employees allegedly worked full-time, plus significant overtime. Their duties included reception, cleaning and laundry, waiting on tables, cooking, maintenance, gardening and groundwork.
One couple worked at the Halls Gap, Queanbeyan and Taree motels between November, 2012 and January, 2015.
It is alleged the female employee was underpaid more than $109,500 as a result of being paid little or nothing for more than 3000 hours of overtime work.
Her partner was allegedly underpaid more than $72,900.
Documents lodged in the Federal Circuit Court allege that the two employees were directed to under-record their work hours.
The female employee was also allegedly threatened with dismissal after she spoke to a Fair Work Ombudsman inspector.
The second Filipino couple was employed at the Halls Gap motel between February, 2013 and April, 2014.
It is alleged the only one of the two workers was paid a wage on the basis they were employed as a couple.
The male employee was allegedly paid nothing at all, despite being entitled to more than $61,500 during the course of his employment.
His partner was paid for normal hours but received little or nothing for hundreds of hours of overtime work, resulting in an alleged underpayment of more than $17,400.
AccomNews is not affiliated with any government agency, body or political party. We are an independently owned, family-operated magazine.
