Security company penalised
The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured a penalty in court against the operators of a Victorian security firm.
The Federal Circuit and Family Court has imposed a $18,900 penalty against Pacific Security Services Pty Ltd, which is based at Romsey and provides security services to various sites in Victoria.
The penalty was imposed in response to the company failing to comply with a Compliance Notice requiring the back-payment of entitlements to a worker who performed work for the company as a security officer between November 2017 and May 2019.
The Court has also ordered Pacific Security Services to comply with the Compliance Notice by back-paying the worker in full.
Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said business operators that fail to act on Compliance Notices need to be aware they can face court-imposed penalties on top of having to back-pay workers.
“When Compliance Notices are not followed, we are prepared to take legal action to ensure workers receive their lawful entitlements,” Ms Parker said.
“Any employees with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact us for free advice and assistance.”
The regulator investigated after receiving a request for assistance from the affected worker.
A Fair Work Inspector issued a Compliance Notice in February 2020 after forming a belief that Pacific Security Services had underpaid the security officer his entitlements under the Security Services Industry Award 2010.
The inspector believed the security officer had been underpaid minimum wage rates, casual loadings, a vehicle allowance and penalty rates for weekend, public holiday and night work.
Employers and employees can visit www.fairwork.gov.au or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 for free advice and assistance about their rights and obligations in the workplace. An interpreter service is available on 13 14 50.
The website includes targeted resources for small businesses in the Small Business Showcase.
