Watchdog targets NSW snowfields for new campaign
June 5th, 2009
Workplace inspectors will target dozens of businesses int he Snowy Mountains this month to ensure ski season workers are being paid properly.
The Federal Workplace Ombudsman has announced plans to randomly audit about 70 resorts, hotels, motels, restaurants, bars and retail outlets.
Businesses at Jindabyne, Perisher and Thredbo will come under scrutiny to ensure they are keeping proper time-and-wages records for staff.
Workplace Ombudsman Executive Director Michael Campbell says the aim of the campaign is to ensure short-term workers employed for the winter ski season are being paid their full entitlements – including the correct hourly rate, allowances, weekend and shift penalty rates.
“Businesses selected for investigation may be asked to provide employment records for the 2008 ski season and this year’s ski season,” he said.
Mr Campbell says the campaign has been prompted by an increase in complaints from NSW snowfields workers.
“Given the higher incidence of complaints and the fact that the snowfields attract many young, unskilled and inexperienced workers who could be vulnerable to exploitation, we feel that a targeted education and compliance campaign is warranted,” he said.
Mr Campbell says inspectors will work to recover money for any workers found to have been underpaid and will assist businesses to rectify problems identified.
As part of the campaign, inspectors will conduct an educative seminar for employers at the Snowy Region Visitors Centre at Jindabyne on Thursday, June 18 from 6pm to 9pm.
The NSW campaign follows a similar exercise in Victoria last year.
The Workplace Ombudsman audited 45 businesses in the Victorian snowfields last season and recovered $22,000 for 38 casual workers who had been underpaid.
www.wo.gov.au Wednesday 3rd June 2009