Activity reports

Download and read our activity reports.

Where there are allegations of serious non-compliance and it’s in the public interest, we may decide to publish our findings following compliance activities involving particular businesses. This would be considered in line with our role of ensuring compliance with Australian workplace laws by enhancing general and specific deterrence.

To find out more about monitoring and report outcomes of our proactive compliance deeds, go to the Proactive Compliance Deeds page.

On this page:

Sydney food precincts proactive investigation report

Release date: April 2023

In May-June 2022, the Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 49 Fast food, Restaurants and Cafés (FRAC) sector businesses operating in Sydney. In completed matters, we found 36 (77%) of the businesses had breached workplace laws, and recovered $239,505 for 333 employees.

Read the Sydney food precincts investigation report  Sydney food precincts investigation report.

Read the media release More than $239,000 recovered for Sydney workers.

Perth security proactive investigation report

Release date: March 2023

In July 2021, the Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 13 security businesses operating in Perth. We found 9 (75%) of the businesses (where investigations had finished) had breached workplace laws, and recovered $368,666 for 102 employees

Read the Perth security proactive investigation report  Perth security proactive investigation report.

Read the media release More than $360,000 recovered for Perth security staff.

Brisbane food precincts proactive investigation report

Release date: November 2022

In December 2021, the Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 77 Fast food, Restaurants and Cafés (FRAC) sector businesses operating in Brisbane. We found 58 (75%) of the businesses had breached workplace laws, and recovered $404,721 for 623 employees

Read the Brisbane food precincts proactive investigation report  Brisbane food precincts proactive investigation report.

Read the media release More than $400,000 recovered for Brisbane workers.

Launceston food precincts proactive investigation report

Release date: October 2022

In November 2021, the Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 31 Fast food, Restaurants and Cafés (FRAC) sector businesses operating in Launceston. We found 24 (77%) of the 31 businesses had breached workplace laws, and recovered $121,574 for 144 employees.

Read the Launceston food precincts proactive investigation report  Launceston food precincts proactive investigation report.

Read the media release Launceston workers back-paid more than $120,000.

Darwin food precincts proactive investigation report

Release date: September 2022

In September 2021, the Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 48 Fast food, Restaurants and Cafés (FRAC) sector businesses operating in and around Darwin's food precincts. We found 34 (76%) of the 45 businesses with finalised investigations had breached workplace laws, and recovered $393,453 for 479 employees.

Read the Darwin food precincts proactive investigation report.

Read the media release Darwin workers back-paid nearly $400,000.

Sandwich Chefs report

Release date: March 2022

In February 2020, the Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 31 Sandwich Chefs outlets in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. A further eight outlets were investigated in 2021 in a second round of audits. Of the 39, we found 32 (82%) had breached workplace laws, and recovered $182,596 for 214 employees.

Read the Sandwich Chefs report  Sandwich Chefs report.

Read the media release: Wages recovered for 214 Sandwich Chefs workers.

Adelaide food precinct proactive investigation report

Release date: December 2021

In April 2021, the Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 58 Fast food, Restaurants and Cafés (FRAC) sector businesses operating in and around Adelaide's Chinatown food precinct. We found 48 (83%) had breached workplace laws, and recovered $189,316 for 306 employees.

Read the Adelaide food precinct proactive investigation report  Adelaide food precinct proactive investigation report.

Read the media release More than $189,000 recovered for Adelaide workers.

COVID-19 hotel quarantine security report

Release date: October 2021

In 2020, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) investigated 37 businesses engaged to provide security at COVID-19 quarantine hotels in Melbourne and Sydney, to check their compliance with workplace laws. We found 15 (41%) had breached workplace laws, and recovered $303,299 for 1,010 employees from 9 businesses.

Read the COVID-19 hotel quarantine security report.

Read the media release: More than $300,000 recovered for security staff.

Gold Coast food precincts report

Release date: September 2021

In December 2020, the Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 50 fast food, restaurants and cafés sector businesses operating in and around Southport and Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. We found 44 (88 per cent) had breached workplace laws, and recovered $215,707 for 446 employees from 31 businesses.

Read the Gold Coast food precincts report  Gold Coast food precincts report.

Read the media release: More than $200,000 recovered for Gold Coast workers.

Hobart food precincts activity report

Release date: April 2021

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 45 fast food, restaurant and café businesses in Hobart food precincts in November 2019. We found that 35 (78 per cent) had breached workplace laws, and recovered $582,450 For 376 employees from 28 businesses.

Read the Hobart food precincts activity report  Hobart food precincts activity report.

Read the media release: Over $580,000 recovered for Hobart workers.

NDIS compliance activity report

Release date: March 2021

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 27 businesses operating in Western Sydney, NSW’s Central Coast and Mid-North Coast, and Inner-East Melbourne between September 2019 and July 2020. We found that 13 of these NDIS service provider businesses (48 per cent) were non-compliant, and recovered $43,204 in unpaid wages for 322 workers.

Read the NDIS compliance activity report  NDIS compliance activity report.

Read the media release: Disability service workers back-paid.

Queensland security compliance activity report

Release date: March 2021

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 19 security businesses in Queensland (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Townsville, Mackay, Maryborough and Gympie) between September 2019 and July 2020. We found that 10 of the businesses (53%) were non-compliant, and recovered a total of $389,982 for 163 employees from 8 businesses.

Read the Queensland security compliance activity report  Queensland security compliance activity report.

Read the media release: Nearly $390,000 recovered for security guards.

Soul Origin: compliance activity report

Release date: November 2020

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 40 Soul Origin sites across Australia in September 2019. We found 33 sites (83%) were non-compliant. We recovered a total of $78,944 from 23 employers for 230 employees working in 26 stores and one manufacturing site.

Read the Soul Origin compliance activity report  Soul Origin compliance activity report.

Read the media release: Wages recovered for Soul Origin workers.

National Compliance Monitoring Report

Release date: October 2020

Between November 2017 and March 2019, the FWO investigated 946 businesses across Australia that we had found to have previously breached Australian workplace laws. Almost half of the businesses (452 businesses, or 48%) were non-compliant with workplace laws. We recovered $508,034 from 243 businesses for 2,994 employees and took a range of enforcement actions, including litigation and entering into enforceable undertakings.

Read the National Compliance Monitoring Report  National Compliance Monitoring Report.

Stadiums Contract Cleaning report

Release date: October 2020

We investigated 9 cleaning companies at 6 stadiums across Australia in September-October 2019. 8 out of 9 cleaning companies were non-compliant with Australian workplace laws. The stadiums were not involved in the contraventions and no evidence of misclassification or sham contracting was found.

Read the Stadiums contract cleaning report  Stadiums contract cleaning report.

Read the media release: Wages recovered for stadium cleaners.

Korean FRAC report

Release date: September 2020

Between August 2019 and December 2019, the Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 51 Fast Food, Restaurant & Café businesses employing Korean workers across Australia. The aim of this activity was to build upon previous investigations disclosing high non-compliance impacting vulnerable workers from Korea. The FWO recovered $161,551 from 22 businesses for 284 employees.

Read the Korean FRAC report  Korean FRAC report.

Read the media release: Over $160,000 recovered in Korean worker audits.

Top Juice Report

Release date: September 2020

The FWO audited 16 Top Juice outlets and visited Top Juice head office in NSW in response to anonymous reports alleging non-compliance. 7 outlets (44%) were non-compliant with workplace laws. We recovered $32,435.04 from 5 businesses for 18 employees.

Read the Top Juice Activity Report  Top Juice Activity Report.

Read the media release: Wages recovered for Top Juice Workers.

National Food and Retail Revisit report

Release date: September 2020

We investigated 171 businesses across Australia in the fast food, restaurant and cafes (FRAC) and retail sectors that had previously been found non-compliant, between March 2019 and March 2020. 71% were non-compliant and we recovered $709,289 from 84 businesses for 796 employees.

Read the National food and retail revisit report  National food and retail revisit report.

Read the media release: Over $1.2 million recovered for food and retail workers.

Melbourne and Brisbane Food Precincts

Release date: September 2020

We investigated 93 businesses in two popular food precincts in Brisbane and Melbourne. 86% were non-compliant with workplace laws. We issued 51 infringement notices, 42 compliance notices and took 1 employer to court. A further two employers may face legal action.

Read the Melbourne and Brisbane food precincts report  Melbourne and Brisbane food precincts report.

Read the media release: Over $1.2 million recovered for food and retail workers.

Gami Chicken: compliance activity report

Release date: August 2020

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 19 Gami Chicken & Beer outlets in Victoria, NSW and WA in April 2019.

We found all the outlets it investigated had breached workplace laws. Common breaches included underpayment or non-payment of penalty rates, underpayment of the minimum hourly rate, and not providing proper payslips. In total, the FWO recovered $233,087 in wages for 353 underpaid workers.

Read the Gami Chicken and Beer compliance activity report  Gami Chicken and Beer compliance activity report.

Read the media release: Over $230,000 recovered for Gami Chicken workers.

Regional University Towns - Geelong Report

Release date: August 2020

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) investigated 132 hospitality and retail businesses in the Greater Geelong area between May 2019 and March 2020 as part of its rolling program of investigations in regional university towns. Geelong has two universities, several smaller independent tertiary education facilities and is home to approximately 15,000 tertiary students.

The Fair Work Ombudsman found 77 per cent of businesses it investigated (102) failed to comply with workplace laws. Breaches included failing to pay staff proper hourly wages and penalty rates, through to failing to provide proper payslips. In total, the regulator recovered $431,875 in wages for 487 underpaid workers.

Read the Regional University Towns - Geelong Report  Regional University Towns - Geelong Report.

Read the media release: Over $430,000 recovered for Geelong workers.

Workplace Basics: compliance activity report

Release date: March 2020

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) audited over 1200 businesses across Australia as part of the Workplace Basics compliance activity, which is a rolling campaign that tests compliance with the ‘basics’, such as pay, record-keeping and pay slips. The campaign commenced in April 2018.

Fair Work Inspectors audited 1217 businesses and found 583 (48%) were in breach of workplace laws, including not paying employees correctly and non-compliance with pay slip and record-keeping requirements. The campaign resulted in 457 contravention letters, 56 formal cautions, 24 infringement notices and 47 compliance notices.

Read the Workplace Basics Compliance Activity Report  Workplace Basics Compliance Activity Report.

Read the media release: Audits recover $1.3 million for underpaid workers.

Emerging franchises: compliance activity report

Release date: December 2019

The FWO audited 76 businesses across 7 franchise brands as part of a compliance activity (The Activity). The Activity was initiated to test compliance within franchise networks which is a strategic priority for the FWO.

The Activity found a 78% non-compliance rate mostly relating to pay slips, penalty rates and underpayment of minimum hourly rate. The Activity resulted in 38 contravention letters, 26 formal cautions, 13 infringement notices and 8 compliance notices. It recovered $731,648 for 780 employees from 40 businesses.

Read the Emerging Franchises Compliance Activity Report  Emerging Franchises Compliance Activity Report.

Read the media release: $730,000 recovered from popular food franchises.

Food precincts: compliance activity report

Release date: December 2019

The FWO audited 156 businesses in popular food precincts in 4 locations as part of a compliance activity (The Activity). The Activity was initiated owing to high employer non-compliance rates and the vulnerability of workers within the fast food, restaurant and café (FRAC) sector.

The Activity found a 75% non-compliance rate with most areas of non-compliance relating to payment of minimum hourly wage, payslips and penalty rates. The Activity resulted in 46 contravention letters, 38 formal cautions, 34 infringement notices and 13 compliance notices. It recovered $316,674 for 608 employees from 79 businesses.

Read the Food Precincts Activity Report #2  Food Precincts Activity Report #2.

Read the media release: Over $300,000 returned to fast food, restaurant and café workers.

Cleaning supply chains in Victorian Government schools: compliance activity report

Release date: November 2019

In late 2017, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) investigated cleaning companies working in 10 Victorian Government schools. The cleaning companies were procured directly by the schools via a Department of Education and Training (DET) approved panel of suppliers.

27 employees were underpaid due to being paid a flat rate for all hours worked and/or incorrect penalty rates. The smallest underpayment for a single worker was $26.39, and the highest was $2223.54.

We took the following compliance and enforcement actions:

  • 3 formal cautions
  • 14 infringement notices
  • 4 compliance notices
  • 1 enforceable undertaking.

Read the Cleaning supply chains in Victorian Government schools: compliance activity report  Cleaning supply chains in Victorian Government schools: compliance activity report.

Read the media release: FWO recovers entitlements for school cleaners.

Commonwealth Games: compliance activity outcomes

Release date: June 2019

The FWO investigated 9 employers as part of the Commonwealth Games Compliance Activity. The Activity was initiated to test the levels of compliance by employers providing general security services at the Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games.

The Activity found varying levels of non-compliance relating to penalty rates, record-keeping and payslip requirements, paying employees on time and in full, and frequency of payment provisions. The Activity resulted in 8 contravention letters, a Formal Caution and 4 Infringement Notices. It recovered $24 309.79 for 10 security officers from 5 employers.

Read the Commonwealth Games Compliance Activity Report  Commonwealth Games Compliance Activity Report.

Read the media release: Commonwealth Games security guards underpaid.

Sushi enterprises: compliance activity outcomes

Release date: October 2018

The FWO investigated 45 regional sushi eateries, as part of a compliance activity (The Activity). The Activity was in response to a high number of requests for assistance from vulnerable workers in regional sushi restaurants.

The Activity found non-compliance with the Fair Work Act 2009 at 39 businesses and resulted in 15 formal cautions, 6 compliance notices, 9 infringements notices, 1 enforceable undertaking and legal proceedings commenced against six employers. The Activity recovered $797 063 for 406 workers.

Read the Report on compliance activity involving sushi enterprises  Report on compliance activity involving sushi enterprises.

Read the media release: FWO recovers nearly $800,000 for sushi workers in NSW, QLD and the ACT.

Degani Bakery Cafe: compliance activity outcomes

Release date: August 2018

The FWO investigated 16 Degani cafes, as part of a compliance activity (The Activity). The Activity was in response to a high number of requests for assistance from Degani Bakery and Café workers alleging underpayment.

The Activity found serious non-compliance with the Fair Work Act 2009 at 15 stores, with only 1 store meeting workplace obligations. The Activity resulted in 10 formal cautions, 8 compliance notices, 5 infringements notices, 1 enforceable undertaking and 1 litigation.

Read the Degani Bakery Cafe Activity Report.

Read the media release: Degani Bakery and Cafe compliance report.

Caltex retail fuel outlets: compliance activity outcomes

Release date: March 2018

The FWO investigated 25 Caltex retail stores nationally, as part of a compliance activity (the Activity). The Activity was in response to a number of concerns the FWO had about underpayments and other non-compliance issues within the Caltex network of franchise-operated stores.

The Activity found significant non-compliance with Commonwealth workplace laws contained in the Fair Work Act 2009 and the relevant modern award, the Vehicle Manufacturing, Repair, Services and Retail Award. The Activity resulted in a number of enforcement outcomes, including 16 formal cautions, 9 infringement notices, 11 compliance notices and 2 litigations.

Read the Caltex Compliance Activity Report.

Read our media release: FWO Report finds three quarters of Caltex sites breaching workplace laws.

United Petroleum retail fuel outlets: Summary of compliance activity outcomes

Release date: April 2017

The FWO has received a number of requests for assistance from United Petroleum franchise and commission agent employees over the years alleging underpayment of wages and conditions. Following media coverage in September 2015 raising new allegations regarding underpayments, we initiated a compliance activity (the Activity) to assess United Petroleum fuel outlets compliance with workplace laws. The Activity included assessing the level of compliance by United Petroleum, its associated entities, franchisees and commission agents by checking a sample of 12 United Petroleum sites.

The Activity found employees of United Petroleum had been underpaid and that United Petroleum did not have any process or system in place to test whether its franchisees or commission agents were paying employees correctly or applying the modern award correctly. The Activity resulted in a number of enforcement outcomes, including 2 enforceable undertakings, 2 compliance notices and 3 letters of caution.

Read the Fair Work Ombudsman's Activity Report on United Petroleum retail fuel outlets.

Read our media release: Fair Work Ombudsman report reveals widespread worker exploitation at United Petroleum outlets.

Pizza Hut franchisee delivery drivers: Summary of compliance activity findings

Release date: January 2017

As a result of receiving a number of requests for assistance, combined with media coverage in November 2015 about alleged underpayments, we initiated a compliance activity (the Activity) into Pizza Hut’s workplace arrangements with its delivery drivers. We reviewed the records of the 34 randomly selected franchisees.

The Activity identified a number of issues in franchisees including non-compliance, misclassification of delivery drivers and underpayments, and found that Pizza Hut didn’t have any process or system in place to test whether their franchisees were applying the relevant industrial instrument correctly. The Activity resulted in a number of enforcement outcomes against 23 non-compliant franchisees as well as the offer of an opportunity to enter into a compliance partnership for the franchisor, Pizza Hut.

Read the Fair Work Ombudsman's Activity Report on Pizza Hut outlets.

Read our media release: Fair Work Ombudsman report reveals non-compliance in major fast-food franchise.