Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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Australian cleaners reimbursed after Ombudsman investigates minimum wage contravention
Cleaners in Northern Territory, Australia, have been reimbursed by a total of some Aus $30,000 following a ruling by the Fair Work Ombudsman that their employers has wrongly paid them less than the minimum wage.
The Fair Work Ombudsman conducted an audit of tendering and procurement activities in cleaning services across the country as part of a follow up to a 2010 study.
Fair Work Ombudsman director Craig Bildstien told ABC News, that the results showed that 1,212 employees were found to be underpaid a total of almost $763,000 across Australia.
"Many of them were young workers, overseas workers and students - so a vulnerable cohort," he said.
"Two Northern Territory businesses were ordered to back pay 22 employees who had been paid below the minimum wage."
More than half of the businesses surveyed were found to be complying with the law.
Craig warned that both employees and contractors needed to be vigilant about wages and that workers should also ensure they were being paid correctly.
"These findings clearly indicate the need for many cleaning contractors to pay greater attention to their wage rates," he said, warning them that random spot checks will continue to be conducted throughout the year.
"It's an industry where we need to continue to put some efforts into our education but also in terms of our ongoing audits for compliance," he said.
19th March 2015