Toil in vain

TWO workers at an Endeavour Hills business, which provides crowd control services have been underpaid, says the Fair Work Ombudsman.
The Fair Work Ombudsman is calling for leadership from the security industry after almost half of the companies scrutinised by inspectors in a national campaign were found not complying with the Fair Work Act.
About $453,000 back-pay is being recovered nationally for 652 workers who were found to have been underpaid.
In Victoria, Fair Work inspectors identified underpayments totalling $40,000 for 61 security industry workers employed by seven separate businesses.
The two workers based in the City of Casey are set to receive $7645 in back-pay.
Fair Work Ombudsman executive director Michael Campbell says the overall campaign results are disturbing, highlighting a need for “ongoing” education within the industry.
Mr Campbell is urging employer organisations, unions and large companies to help drive behavioural change.
The Fair Work Ombudsman began investigating security firms because of concerns about the high number of complaints and prosecutions the security industry was generating.
“In an industry characterised by long working hours, night shifts, high staff turnover and casual labour, it is disappointing to find just 51 per cent of employers meeting their lawful obligations,” Mr Campbell said.
“What we have found is a widespread use of flat rates of pay in the belief that such arrangements would compensate for allowances, shift and weekend penalties, overtime and annual leave loadings.”
Employers or employees seeking more information can call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 or visit www.fairwork.gov.au