Fair pay for a fair day’s spray

A DANDENONG panel beating businesses underpaid a spray painter $7700, a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation has found.
The watchdog randomly audited businesses and discovered workers being underpaid their minimum hourly rates and weekend and late-night penalty rates.
The employers reimbursed all money owed when Fair Work inspectors contacted them and explained their obligations.
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said the underpayments occurred because employers had misclassified some workers and were not fully aware of penalty rates for late-night and weekend shifts.
“A small mistake left over time can easily result in a hefty bill for back-payment of wages – so it is important employers get it right in the first place,” she said.
The Fair Work Ombudsman’s website www.fairwork.gov.au contains tools and resources to help employers understand and comply with their workplace obligations.
Employers and employees seeking further assistance can call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 and a free interpreter service is available on 13 14 50.