An Indian visa-holder was short-changed $22,000 over just 17 months by an Adelaide labour hire company.
Inquiries by the Fair Work Ombudsman have revealed that the business failed to pay the casual employee the minimum hourly and public holiday rates, besides the casual loading that alone amounted to over $19,000.
The employee worked in the horticulture industry on a 475 skilled sponsored visa.
The employee who is in his mid-30s was paid flat rates between $15.96 and $17.
Whereas the Horticulture Industry Award stipulates a minimum payment of $20.66 an hour and between $26.45 and $29.99 on public holidays.
After his attempts to get the payment of wages rectified, the employee approached the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says the business escaped enforcement action because it had not previously come to the agency’s notice and cooperated with inspectors to rectify the matter and ensure its ongoing compliance in the future.
However, after a follow-up compliance notice was issued following further requests for assistance from two other employees, the company went into liquidation.
