Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Fair Work Ombudsman makes university and hospitality sectors a priority for 2022/23

Fair Work Ombudsman makes university and hospitality sectors a priority for 2022/23
June 22, 2022

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker has announced the regulator’s strategic priorities for the year ahead with hospitality and university sectors among the key areas of focus in 2022-23.

Parker notes the universities sector was a new compliance and enforcement priority after regular self-reports from universities of significant underpayments, including to casual workers.

“We are concerned about the allegations of long-running underpayments in many universities, with our current investigations finding trends of poor governance and management oversight, and a lack of centralised human resources functions and investment in payroll and time-recording systems. We expect to be taking high-level enforcement action against a number of universities this year, and urge all to prioritise their compliance,” Parker said.

Commenting on the hospitality sector, Parker advises "the FWO continues to find high levels of non-compliance in the fast food, restaurants and cafe sector, with many requests for assistance coming from vulnerable workers. That is why we will continue to undertake proactive investigations in metropolitan food precincts across the year.”

Parker said that while investigating large corporate underpayments remained a priority for the regulator, The FWO would also continue to prioritise assistance to small businesses, recognising the crucial role they had played in the nation’s economic recovery from COVID-19.

In 2021-22, the Fair Work Ombudsman has answered more than 50,000 calls to its Small Business Helpline and had over 270,000 views of its Small Business webpage and Small Business Showcase.

“Our targeted small business resources have been complemented by the Employer Advisory Service, which in 2021-22 has provided more than 1000 tailored written advices to eligible small businesses in relation to employee entitlements under the National Employment Standards and award provisions. Small businesses have faced many workplace challenges in the last two years and we will continue to provide them with the information they need to meet their Fair Work Act obligations,” Parker said.

Compliance and enforcement activities will continue throughout the year in contract cleaning and through our sham contracting unit.

“We will continue to enforce wage laws to ensure vulnerable workers, including visa holders and young workers, are protected, while helping both employers and workers with free advice,” Parker added.

FWO’s 2022-23 Compliance and Enforcement Priorities are available here.

Information about Australian workplace laws and coronavirus is available here

Information on the Employer Advisory Service is available here.

Employers and employees can contact the FWO Infoline for free assistance on 13 13 94.

Related Articles

17th June 2022 - Fair Work Ombudsman takes former horseriding recreation centre to court

25th May 2022 - Fair Work Ombudsman takes former fitness centre operator to court

25th August 2021 - Fair Work Ombudsman penalises former operators of Big Buoy Waterpark

12th January 2021 - FITREC references Fair Work Ombudsman advice in ongoing dispute over registration of industry professionals

18th December 2020 - FITREC cites Fair Work Ombudsman advice in ongoing battle over registration of industry professionals

9th October 2020 - Fair Work Ombudsman recovers wages for stadium cleaners

13th January 2020 - Fair Work Ombudsman review leads Quayclean to adopt new business model

13th January 2020 - Fair Work Ombudsman alleges underpayment of stadium cleaners

7th October 2019 - Fair Work Ombudsman audits cleaning operations at Optus Stadium

9th September 2019 - Fair Work Ombudsman reveals audit of stadia cleaning contractors

30th May 2018 - Fair Work Ombudsman fines ISS Facility Services for underpaying MCG cleaners

8th May 2018 - Public notice from Paul Sadler Swimland clarifies Fair Work Ombudsman agreement

8th August 2016 - Fair Work Ombudsman steps in to stop Canberra gym underpaying personal trainer

20th December 2015 - Fair Work Ombudsman orders Launceston fitness club owner to compensate instructor

9th September 2011 - Amusement operator fined $30,000 following prosecution by Fair Work Ombudsman

12th April 2011 - Fair Work Ombudsman focuses on Queensland fitness


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Ungerboeck Software

As of February 2023, Ungerboeck Software has rebranded as Momentus Technologies.

read more

Entertainment / Events / Hospitality / Technology / Venues

 
 

PathMinder

PathMinder Pty Ltd have partnered with AllUser Industries srl to bring Europe’s most advanced high security portals to the Australian and New Zealand markets. AllUser Industries started to…

read more

Access / Fitness / Recreation / Security

 
 

Links Modular Solutions

Links Modular Solutions was a leading provider of high-quality, innovative software solutions for aquatic and recreation facilities. Links Modular Solutions is now part of Xplor Technologies.

read more

Access / Billing / Finance / Fitness / Technology

 
 

HIB Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

HIB Insurance Brokers - Experts in Leisure and Amusement Insurance With over 20 years specialising in the Amusement and Leisure industries, we have the experience to understand your operations and…

read more

Attractions / Entertainment / Insurance / Recreation / Safety

 
 

Envibe

With its sleek good looks and easy-to-use yet powerful functionality, Envibe is the premium fitness club software for the Australasian leisure, recreation and fitness industry. We are the most…

read more

Aquatics / Fitness / Recreation / Technology

 
 

Clubware

Clubware’s online gym software is not your run of the mill management system. It has been carefully designed to incorporate all the elements that a fitness club would need. How did we do that?…

read more

Access / Billing / Fitness / Recreation

 
 

@leisure Planners

@leisure is a team of experienced leisure, aquatic and sports facility managers and planners, with market modelling, sports management, recreation planning, business and GIS qualifications. We have…

read more

Consultants

 
 

SportEng

ABOUT SPORTENG specialises in the Planning, Design and Construction inspection of Fields of Play for all sports. Blending engineering with the specialist knowledge gained from working closely with…

read more

Consultants / Recreation / Sport / Surfaces / Venues

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business