A YOUNG apprentice tradesman from Pakenham has been reimbursed $5800 for underpaid wages.
The tradesman is one of five workers to have been back-paid a total of $37,100 after a recent intervention by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
He was also reimbursed for failing to be paid wages in lieu of notice upon termination between 2011-2012.
The biggest recovery was $13,200 for a Caulfield cleaner underpaid wages, overtime rates and penalty rates between 2008 and 2010.
After Fair Work inspectors contacted the business and explained its obligations the employee was reimbursed all money owed without the need for further action against the employer.
Other recoveries include $5000 for a Chinese national employed at a Springvale retail business underpaid wages in 2011-2012 and $7800 for a Doncaster construction worker not paid redundancy entitlements upon termination in 2012.
Acting Fair Work Ombudsman, Michael Campbell, said a lack of awareness among employers of the minimum entitlements that applied to their employees was a common cause of the underpayments.
Mr Campbell said when Fair Work inspectors identify a problem and contact a business, most employers check their records, realise a problem has occurred, and fix it immediately.
“These businesses have now corrected the errors that led to the underpayments and put processes in place to ensure they will not happen again,” Mr Campbell said.
Employers and employees seeking information and advice should visit www.fairwork.gov.au or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94.
