Protections for businesses ready as criminal underpayments offence begins

Small business employers should be assured that honest efforts to pay the right wages and other entitlements for their employees can protect them from prosecution, now that criminal underpayment laws are in effect.

New criminal underpayment laws have started

New criminal underpayment laws started on 1 January 2025. Here’s a reminder about what’s changed.

$5 million in penalties after kids clothing retailer exploits migrant workers

The FWO has secured a total of $5,146,100 in court penalties after a New South Wales and ACT retailer exploited four Chinese migrants.

Early Childhood Education and Care Worker Retention Payment

Find out about workplace instruments for the purpose of the Early Childhood Education and Care Worker Retention Payment.

Hairdressing business penalised after breaches impacting apprentice

The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured a total of $58,000 in court penalties against a former hairdressing business in greater western Sydney and a former director for breaches affecting a young worker.

Newcastle dumpling restaurant operators in court

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against the operators of a dumpling restaurant in Newcastle for an alleged breach affecting vulnerable migrant workers.

Former motor vehicle smash repair business operators penalised for deliberate breaches

The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured $131,268 in penalties, plus back-pay orders, in court against the former operators of a motor vehicle smash repair business in Western Sydney.

Instrument calibration company and director penalised $67,000 for deliberate breaches

The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured $67,000 in court penalties against a Queensland-based company specialising in industrial equipment instrument calibration and its director.

New criminal underpayment laws start 1 January 2025

The Voluntary Small Business Wage Compliance Code and our supporting guide is now available to help businesses prepare and protect themselves from criminal prosecution from 1 January 2025.

University of Sydney signs Enforceable Undertaking

The University of Sydney will complete more than $23 million in payments, including superannuation and interest, to more than 14,000 underpaid staff as part of entering into an EU with the FWO.