Businesses in Melbourne suburbs will be asked to open their books as part of compliance blitz
September 29, 2010
Up to 100 businesses in Melbourne suburbs will be asked to open their books, as the workplace watchdog conducts a compliance blitz.
The Fair Work Ombudsman will next week begin 60 face-to-face visits in Footscray to scrutinise employment records. Businesses will also be given tips on how to comply with workplace laws.
The Ombudsman has also written to 40 employers in Laverton to provide them with educational information about workplace laws and to ask them to provide time-and-wages records for audit.
Fair Work Ombudsman Executive Director Michael Campbell says inspectors will check employers are paying staff their full entitlements and are complying with record-keeping and pay slip obligations.
“A key objective of the campaign is also to help employers understand workplace laws, including modern awards and minimum national employment standards,” Campbell says.
“Where we find records are not adequate or identify other non-compliance issues, we will provide information and assistance to employers and request they voluntarily rectify any problems.
“In cases where they don’t, or where we suspect deliberate underpayments or other serious breaches have occurred, we may launch a full investigation.”
Campbell says the agency has developed best practice guides to assist employers to help companies comply with the Fair Work Act and workplace laws.