Fair Work Ombudsman and predecessors page 7 of 21

210 articles are classified in All Articles > Institutions, tribunals, courts > Fair Work Ombudsman and predecessors


Coronavirus-driven Budget increases for FEG, FWC

The Morrison Government will modestly increase funding to the Fair Work Commission over the next two years as part of its response to COVID-19, which is expected to drive up employer insolvencies and increase demand for the Fair Entitlements Guarantee scheme.

Underpaying corporates piling pressure on stretched FWO: Parker

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker says the number of large corporations under investigation for underpayment has risen to 70, forcing the agency to redeploy staff while also having to deal with a spike in inquiries due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


Cultural differences a poor excuse for exploitation: Judge

A federal court judge has in fining an underpaying juice shop operator almost $35,000 flatly rejected "cultur[al] differences" as a mitigating factor, lamenting instead the frequency with which ethnically diverse employers exploit their own communities.

Court backs FWO's power to delve into past

In a significant decision on FWO investigative powers under recent laws stiffening protections for vulnerable workers, the Federal Court has rejected a franchisor's bid to have declared void a notice to produce documents created before the legislation came into force.

Court scuppers FWO's unlawful strike case against seafarers

The FWO's pursuit of penalties over a crew's "sit-in" on a decommissioned trading vessel has been potentially scuppered by a Federal Court finding that they were not covered by an agreement at the time.

FWO's $17m spend on pandemic legal advice

The Fair Work Ombudsman has revealed it will spend more than $17 million on a panel of law firms charged with providing tailored workplace advice to employers affected by COVID-19.

Judge says FWO didn't seek compensation for ripped-off workers

In levelling a $22,440 penalty against the former owner-operator of a labour-hire company that underpaid 80 workers on a Queensland mushroom farm more than $78,000, a court has noted the FWO did not seek compensation.

Watchdog to have less bite during virus crisis

In a coronavirus-driven strategy shift, the Fair Work Ombudsman will temporarily consider the "impact on viability" when deciding whether to prosecute employers, but has stressed it will still require underpayments to be made good.

"Contrite" ABC made to pay for short-changing employees

In the FWO's first "contrition payment" extracted from another federal public body, the ABC has agreed to pay $600,000 and enter into an enforceable undertaking after admitting it underpaid 1900 past and current employees more than $12 million.