More than $2.5 million in unclaimed wages
The Fair Work Ombudsman is calling on workers who suspect they were underpaid in previous jobs to check if they are entitled to a share in unclaimed wages.
The agency is currently holding over $2.5 million in trust for around 10,000 people who were underpaid in a former job but cannot be located.
Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said compliance and enforcement activities regularly find underpayments of both current and former employees.
“If an employee is owed money but has left the business and can’t be located, these entitlements are held in trust until we are able to find them,” Ms Parker says.
“We make extensive efforts to locate underpaid former employees, using internal investigation records, government public resources, social media and online tools.”
Since 2010, the Fair Work Ombudsman has reunited almost $2 million in unclaimed wages with over 1,800 workers.
In one matter, our efforts to track down a former security guard led to over $21,000 in unpaid wages and entitlements paid to the worker’s family, after it was discovered the former employee had sadly passed away.
Similarly, we located a former employee via the electoral roll to pass on over $200 in unpaid wages, while more than $6,000 was returned to a former trolley collector tracked down by the regulator.
“Many workers leave their jobs without even knowing that they were underpaid so all workers should check whether they are entitled to unclaimed wages,” Ms Parker says.
“With an average entitlement around $250, anyone who thinks they may have been short-changed in a former job should visit the FWO website to make a claim.”
Visit www.fairwork.gov.au to check if you are entitled to unclaimed wages or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94. An interpreter service is available on 13 14 50. If you are eligible to make a claim, the FWO will provide free assistance with this process.
The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) is also available at www.fairwork.gov.au, which provides advice about pay, shift, leave and redundancy entitlements.
Follow the Fair Work Ombudsman @fairwork_gov_au 
or find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/fairwork.gov.au .
Sign up to receive the Fair Work Ombudsman’s media releases direct to your email inbox at www.fairwork.gov.au/mediareleases.
Media inquiries:
Mira Millane, Media Adviser
Mobile: 0439 835 855
mira.millane@fwo.gov.au
