Australian workers back-paid $473 million

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Australian workers back-paid 473 million
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• In 2023-24, Aussie workers clawed back a whopping
  473 million in owed wages, thanks to the Fair
  Work Ombudsman (FWO), which brought the total
  back-pay for underpaid workers to a staggering
  1.5 billion over the past three years. This past
  year marked a record for the FWO, as it secured
  the highest penalties in its 15-year
  history21.2 million in court-ordered fines from
  various employers.

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• The FWOs latest Annual Report revealed that
  large corporate employers were responsible for
  more than half of these recoveries, paying over
  333 million to nearly 110,000 employees. Since
  July 2020, this sector alone has repaid workers
  877 million. Acting Fair Work Ombudsman Michael
  Campbell highlighted the FWOs focus on holding
  big employers accountable, which has helped
  instill a culture of compliance across Australian
  workplaces.

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• The Fair Work Ombudsman is driving change so
  Australias biggest employers, just like smaller
  ones, make compliance a priority, Campbell said.
  Getting owed wages back into workers pockets
  really makes a difference and ensures a fair go
  for employers doing the right thing.

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• This years enforcement saw some major legal
  wins, including 10.3 million in penalties
  against the Commonwealth Bank and CommSec, and
  over 4 million against Din Tai Fung restaurants.
  Notably, nearly 8 million of total penalties
  were linked to cases involving migrant workers,
  underscoring the FWOs commitment to protecting
  vulnerable workers.

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• The FWO also tackled compliance issues through
  other measures, filing 64 new court actions,
  entering into 15 Enforceable Undertakings with
  businesses (securing 30.2 million in back-pay),
  and issuing 2,574 Compliance Notices to recover
  16.9 million in unpaid wages. Meanwhile, 760
  Infringement Notices for record-keeping or pay
  slip breaches saw fines totaling 986,616, up
  from the previous year.

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• Looking ahead to 2024-25, the FWO plans to focus
  on high-risk sectors like aged care, agriculture,
  construction, disability support, fast food, and
  universities, while continuing its support for
  small businesses and at risk workers across the
  country.
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