The Fair Work Ombudsman increased its use of compliance notices by 113% in 2020-21, as it sought to quickly rectify underpayments instead of taking action in the courts, while it has nevertheless ramped up its legal action by more than 40% and set up a dedicated branch to pursue corporate misconduct.
The ROC expects to finish its investigation into the AWU's historical donations to GetUp by the end of this year, after a three-year court battle delayed it.
A court has accepted that it should impose a reduced underpayment penalty on an employer and its director because last year's extended coronavirus lockdown in Melbourne significantly reduced the size and financial resources of the business.
The FWO "uncritically" accepted an employment agency's assertions about the correct award to apply to underpayment claims before prematurely issuing compliance notices, an employer alleges.
The FWO has begun prosecuting retailer Woolworths for allegedly substantially underpaying salaried managers who had been subject to annualised salaries.
The ROC is seeking external help with its investigation of inaccurate membership records kept by the AWU between 2009 and 2017, a Senate Estimates committee heard yesterday.
