Kelly O'Dwyer backs 22 recommendations to stamp out wage fraud.Credit:Dan Himbrechts
The report also called for the government to establish a national registration scheme to track labour hire firms,particularly in the high-risk industries of horticulture,meat processing,cleaning and security. The scheme would have the power to cancel registrations if the labour hire firm is caught breaking the law.
Other recommendations include banning employers from employing visa holders for a specified period if they have been convicted in court of underpaying foreign visa holders.
Jobs and Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O’Dwyer said the government accepted in principle all 22 recommendations.
“The Coalition government has no tolerance for those who repeatedly and deliberately underpay workers,whether they are an Australian or a worker on a visa. For the very first time we will introduce criminal sanctions for the most serious and egregious forms of deliberate exploitation of workers,” she said.
There was much publicity concerning 7-Eleven franchisees,but demonstrably the problem was more widespread.
Report of the Migrant Workers' Taskforce released on Thursday
The inquiry was sparked by a spate of underpayment scandals exposed by theSydney Morning Herald andThe Age including at well known companies such as 7-Eleven,Domino’s Pizza,Pizza Hut,United Petroleum,Appco,Caltex and Retail Food Group.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has already pledged to make his state the first one to criminalise wage fraud.