Government agencies launch business swoop

Over the course of two days, inspectors will be checking time and wage records to ensure employers are paying their workers correctly and complying with pay slip and record-keeping requirements.

The previous joint operation in Brisbane saw almost $40,000 recovered for underpaid workers, receiving positive feedback from businesses who would otherwise have faced separate visits from the two agencies.

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said both agencies want to make it as easy as possible for small businesses to access the advice and support they need to comply with their various legislative obligations.

“A major objective of the joint campaign is to educate employers about their responsibilities and arm them with the tools they need to build a culture of compliance within their business,” Ms James said.

“Where instances of non-compliance are identified, Fair Work inspectors will assist employers to rectify the issues and put in place processes to ensure the same issues do not arise in the future.”

ASIC chairman Greg Medcraft also emphasised the importance of education and noted that many small businesses face challenges in simply keeping track of their obligations.

“Businesses with first-time company directors will be a focus of the campaign, with the aim of providing them early on with the resources and information they need to understand and meet their obligations,” Mr Medcraft said.