Current & upcoming campaigns

Fair Workplace Ombudsman campaigns

Campaigns listed before July 1 2009 were commenced by the Workplace Ombudsman and will be finished by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

 

 
National campaigns

Name of campaign National Retail Industry Campaign
Date   2 July 2010

Campaign Type

 National
Campaign summary 

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced the education phase of the National Retail Industry Campaign. In preparation for this important phase, which continues until February 2011, we have consulted widely with retail industry and union stakeholders about education strategies and materials most appropriate for their needs. Industry and union stakeholders include Australian Retailers Association (ARA), National Retail Association (NRA), National Independent Retailers Association (NIRA), United Retail Federation(URF), Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) and Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA).

A central focus of the education phase is the retail industry section of Fair Work Online. This provides a suite of tools, templates, best practice examples and advice which will support retail employers in their awareness of and compliance with Australia’s workplace laws. We are also distributing educational material to a wide range of outlets nationally, and making written contact with approximately 20,000 retail employers. In addition, Fair Work Inspectors will be conducting educational visits to employers transitioning from the state to the federal system. The campaign’s compliance audit phase will take place between February and April 2011.

Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign Insulation Installers Audit Program
Date   14 April 2010

Campaign Type

 National
Campaign summary  Fair Work Inspectors are targeting the Insulation Installers industry in a two to three month program due for completion in June. Following significant public interest in installer compliance with workplace laws, we will be auditing installation employers’ time and wage records, and auditing contract arrangements for alleged contraventions of ‘sham contracting’ provisions in the Fair Work Act 2009. Following an initial email distribution to over 7300 enterprises, we will target 507 installers for audit – 50% who are active in the industry, and 50% who are either deregistered, or inactive due to termination of the Federal Government’s Home Insulation Program. The audit will be two-pronged – a time and wage audit of the records of industry employers, and an audit of contracts and/or documentary evidence of the engagement of contractors. We expect to release the final report in June.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign National Follow-up Campaign
Date   15 March 2009

Campaign Type

 National
Campaign summary  Fair Work Inspectors are targeting 516 employers around the country for a follow-up audit of industries including retail, hospitality, hair and beauty and cleaning. We are using our case histories to identify previously audited employers who did not comply with record keeping and other requirements under workplace laws. This campaign will determine if, following our initial audit, employers are remaining compliant in the medium term.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign Horticulture Industry Shared Compliance Program
Date   9 March 2010

Campaign Type

 National
Campaign summary 

March 9 was launch date for the two month education phase of the national Horticulture Industry Shared Compliance Campaign. The campaign has been a historic first – involving collaboration between the Fair Work Ombudsman, and industry and union partners (Australian Industry Group, Australian Workers’ Union, Horticulture Australia Council and National Farmers’ Federation). The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has also provided valuable input.

The education phase involves a mail out to nearly 15,000 horticulture growers, the publication of a Guide to the Horticulture Award 2010, and dedicated horticulture pages on the FWO website for employees and employers. The partners and the Fair Work Ombudsman will be conducting education seminars in regional areas, and Fair Work Inspectors will undertake education visits to employers who are transitioning to the national system. The campaign’s compliance audit phase will take place in May and June.

Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign Security Industry Campaign
Date   September 2009 - April 2010

Campaign Type

 National
Campaign summary  The Fair Work Ombudsman has completed its report on the national security industry. In the campaign’s education phase, we engaged with major industry stakeholders, presented seminars, and distributed educational material. In an industry known for long working hours, staff turnover and a high proportion of casual employees, we found 51% of employers complying with the provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009. In the compliance phase, we have finalised 256 audits, and recovered $452,824.00 for more than 652 workers. The campaign’s key finding was employers’ widespread use of flat rates of pay in the belief that such arrangements would compensate for allowances, penalty and loading provisions. We will continue education and compliance activities in the security industry, and plan to determine the prevalence of phoenixing practices and sham contracting arrangements.
Campaign results  National Security Industry Campaign 2009 - pdf  401KB

 

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Name of campaign National Hair and Beauty Campaign 
Date   June 2009 - December 2009

Campaign Type

 National
Campaign summary  In the first education phase of our national Hair and Beauty campaign, Fair Work Inspectors contacted over 2000 employers across Australia. In the second phase, we have completed audits of 330 employers. 200 (61%) employers were found to be compliant, while 130 (39%) employers were found to have contraventions in correct pay and conditions, and record keeping and pay slips. As a result of this campaign, we are due to recover $139,040 for more than 223 employees working in the Hair and Beauty industries. These industries employ a high proportion of vulnerable workers, particularly apprentices and young females, and, encouragingly, 116 employers who were in contravention have voluntarily resolved their matters.
Campaign results  National Hair and Beauty Campaign - pdf 58KB

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State campaigns

New South Wales & Australian Capital Territory

Name of campaign NSW Transitional Educational Visits
Date 25 May 2010

Campaign Type

 NSW Transitional Education Visits
Campaign summary  Fair Work Inspectors are conducting educational visits to 205 NSW employers transitioning to the national workplace system, following the federal referral of state IR powers. In the western suburbs of Sydney, we are providing education and information packs to employers in the commercial precinct of Seven Hills. In central western and southern NSW, we are visiting businesses in the retail, hospitality and industrial sectors in Orange, Dubbo and Nowra. In Nowra, our focus is on casual and short term workers. The campaign continues until early June.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign NSW Broken Hill Education and Compliance Program
Date 25 May 2010

Campaign Type

 Audit program
Campaign summary  Fair Work Inspectors are conducting a three day education and compliance campaign in Broken Hill. There will be an educational seminar at the Legions Club on 25 May in association with Business Broken Hill. Seminar topics will include awards relevant to the Broken Hill working community, and we’ll be providing information for employers on transition to modern awards. In the second leg of the campaign, we will conduct audits of 40 Broken Hill employers. We will combine educational audits, providing self audit checklists and educational information to employers, with field based compliance audits.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign NSW Transitional Education Visits
Date 31 March 2010

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Fair Work Inspectors are conducting educational visits to 300 NSW employers transitioning to the national workplace system, following the federal referral of state IR powers. In suburban Sydney, we will provide education and information packs to restaurant and café employers in Surry Hills, Earlwood, Coogee and Bondi Beach. In southern NSW, we will visit retail, hospitality and personal service employers in Berry, Moss Vale and Albury. There will be a focus on businesses which have commenced in the past year. The campaign continues until mid May.
Campaign results This will be available when the initiative ends.

Name of campaign NSW Far North West compliance audit local initiative
Date 29 March 2010

Campaign Type

 Local initiative
Campaign summary  Fair Work Inspectors are spending three days in the regional centres of Dubbo, Narrabri and Moree in the Far North West of New South Wales. We are conducting 40 audits – compliance audits of employers who are sponsoring 457 visa holder employees in those centres, and education audits of other employers in the region. We are auditing 4 employer sponsors, and 6 non-sponsors in Dubbo, 20 non-sponsors in Narrabri and 10 non-sponsors in Moree. Inspectors will also distribute information packs, and provide educational support to employers in these regions.
Campaign results This will be available when the initiative ends.

Name of campaign NSW South Coast Education and Record-keeping Campaign
Date 11 February 2010

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary 

Inspectors from the Fair Work Ombudsman are joining forces with inspectors from the NSW Office of Industrial Relations in a record-keeping and education campaign in the tourist cities and towns along the NSW South Coast. Travelling from Nowra in the north to Bega on the Sapphire Coast, FWO inspectors will target employers in coastal accommodation and the tourism sector with a record-keeping and pay slip campaign.

On the same trip, NSW Office of Industrial Relations inspectors will make Transitional Education Visits to South Coast employers who have made the transition from the state to the federal workplace system. Inspectors will provide these employers with information about their rights and obligations under national workplace laws.

Campaign results This will be available when the initiative ends.

Name of campaign Shuttle bus drivers education and compliance campaign in the Hunter
Date November 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Some airport shuttle bus drivers in the Hunter region have been significantly underpaid, according to investigations by Newcastle Fair Work Inspectors.  The Newcastle office has begun an education and compliance campaign targeted at employers of shuttle bus drivers, often older vulnerable employees. An education campaign will give employers  the opportunity to voluntarily resolve compliance issues. This will be followed by targeted audits of identified employers in Newcastle and suburbs. We have initiated this campaign with the aim of ensuring drivers are paid properly, and employers comply with workplace laws.
Campaign results This will be available when the initiative ends.

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Name of campaign Pacific Seasonal Worker Local Initiative Second Phase
Date October 2009

Campaign Type

 Local Initiative
Campaign summary  NSW Fair Work Inspectors are following up their initial review of time and wages issues affecting Pacific islanders working in the Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme. Their first review determined that the islanders were paid at or above award rates, but further investigation was needed to determine if the islanders were working 30 hours minimum as required by their agreement. Inspectors are also reviewing if the islanders are being paid at regular intervals consistent with their payment provisions.
Campaign results This will be available when the initiative ends.

Name of campaign Belconnen building site campaign
Date 24 July to 2 September 2009

Campaign Type

 Local Initiative
Campaign summary  A short audit of four local businesses followed a media report of exploitation of illegal workers employed on a Canberra building site. Fair Work Inspectors found no evidence of exploitation by the four target businesses, and investigations are continuing into sub-contracting arrangements with the illegal workers.
Campaign results  Belconnen Building Site Audit - pdf 45KB

Name of campaign Pacific Seasonal Worker Local Initiative
Date August 2009

Campaign Type

 Local Initiative
Campaign summary  NSW Fair Work Inspectors reviewed the time and wages records of 49 Pacific Seasonal Workers employed in the horticulture industry under the federal government’s Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme. The Inspectors found that all employees were being paid at or above the prescribed rate of pay under the Agreement. Some employees were paid above their classification, and all employees were paid their due entitlements including Workers Compensation.
Campaign results The audit remained open to allow further investigation into whether all employees received the guaranteed minimum payment as required by the Agreement. The outcome found that the employees had received their minimum entitlements. 

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Name of campaign NSW Hunter Region International Student Education and Compliance Campaign
Date August 2009 - December 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Fair Work Inspectors from our Hunter office have recovered $64,701 in payments for 80 employees, following an audit campaign targeted at employers of international students at the University of Newcastle. Responding to local media reports of alleged underpayments, we targeted 18 businesses including restaurants and take-away outlets in the hospitality sector, and hand car washes. We found contraventions in the underpayment of minimum pay and leave entitlements, and in record keeping and pay slip content. Inspectors noted that contraventions applied to all employees, not only to international students.
Campaign results  NSW Hunter Region International Student Education and Compliance Campaign - pdf 48KB

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Name of campaign Hunter Region Metal, Engineering & Associated Industries Campaign
Date January  - October 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Fair Work inspectors have targeted the metal industry sector in the Newcastle region, as it employs a high proportion of apprentices. Provisions in the Metal, Engineering and Associated Industries Award 1988 have been varied for apprentices. Their progression is now based on competency rather than on the period of time they have been employed. We conducted 15 random audits and found 2 record keeping contraventions. We confirmed many industry employers need further consultation and support to properly implement the progression of their apprentices under the new provisions.
Campaign results  Hunter Region Metal, Engineering & Associated Industries Campaign - pdf 52KB

Name of campaign Sydney Metropolitan Cleaning Contractors Campaign
Date May 2009 - June 2010

Campaign Type

 Regional
Campaign summary  Sydney Fair Work Inspectors have conducted a pilot audit campaign into the commercial cleaning industry in Sydney, North Sydney and Parramatta CBD’s. We made 17 night time site visits to commercial office buildings in Sydney, and undertook 14 audits. To date, we have recovered $1277 for 2 employees, and we expect to recover over $40,000 for 28 employees, following the finalisation of one investigation. While the level of compliance in this pilot campaign was high (86%), it established several issues requiring further research. These include allegations of cash in hand payments, the possibility of sham contracting, and workers reluctant to speak with us, either because they were students on visas, or they appeared to have been coached in their responses. We intend to investigate these issues further in the National Cleaning Services Campaign, scheduled for late 2010.
Campaign results  Sydney Metropolitan Cleaning Contractors Campaign Final report - pdf 65KB

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Northern Territory

Name of campaign NT Mindil Beach Sunset Market Initiative 2009
Date 8th October 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary This Thursday, Darwin Fair Work Inspectors will be visiting the premium  tourist destination at Mindil Beach Sunset Market. Inspectors believe that stallholders working at this seasonal market employ a high rate of back packers, international students and other young people. Time and wage records will be checked, as well as minimum pay rates. The initiative aims to increase employer awareness of their record keeping obligations, and educate vulnerable employees in the support available from the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign NT Remote and Regional Areas Audit
Date Started October 2008

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary A campaign to promote and increase the profile of the Workplace Ombudsman in remote and regional areas of the Northern Territory, including Katherine, Tenant Creek and a shop front presence in Alice Springs.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

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Queensland

Name of campaign Central & Northern Queensland Clubs Industry - follow-up campaign
Date April 2009 to August 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Queensland Fair Work Inspectors have followed up their 2008 campaign which targeted registered and licensed clubs in central and northern Queensland. In 2008, we found 890 workers had been underpaid $141,000. In this year’s follow up, we have recovered over $206,369 for more than 1100 workers, and confirmed that 84% of non complying employers paid their workers using incorrect wage rates. Registered and licensed clubs employ a high proportion of young workers. Also in the 2009 follow up, we audited ten non complying businesses from the 2008 campaign, and found increased compliance among these employers
Campaign results  Queensland Clubs follow-up Campaign - pdf 58KB

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South Australia

Name of campaign Pooraka Produce Market – Follow Up Audit Program
Date June – August 2010

Campaign Type

 Audit Program
Campaign summary  Fair Work Inspectors will conduct a follow up audit at the Pooraka Produce Market, north of Adelaide, in late June. They are following up a previous Fair Work audit conducted at Pooraka in August last year.  We audited 29 employers, and found significant non compliance - 45% (13) of the 29 employers were in contravention of record keeping and pay slip requirements. All employers voluntarily resolved the issues raised. Ten months later, we are going back to the Pooraka Market to check for improvements in record keeping practices, and to determine if the employers are paying their workers minimum pay and entitlements. We will contact the relevant stakeholders, and plan to audit approximately 50 employers in this follow up phase
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign SA Car Wash Audit Program
Date 16 April 2010

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Fair Work Inspectors are targeting 7 personalised car wash venues in metropolitan Adelaide for an education and compliance audit. We’ll provide the employers with FWO educational materials to assist their awareness of recent changes in national workplace laws. The program’s audit phase will focus on two areas: where serviced car washes have engaged workers as employees, we’ll audit time and wage records for the period March-April 2010. If we have evidence of a contractual relationship between employer and worker, we will determine if this relationship is valid. If we suspect a ‘sham contracting’ arrangement, prohibited under the Fair Work Act 2009, we will investigate further. As these businesses commonly employ vulnerable workers, the pilot may indicate the need for a national valeted car wash campaign going forward.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

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Name of campaign Adelaide Clipsal 500 meal break compliance audit
Date 15 and 16 March 2010

Campaign Type

 Local initiative
Campaign summary  The Clipsal 500 – Adelaide’s premier car race – is being held in the streets of the city’s East End between 11 and 14 March. East End cafes, restaurants and hotels are operating at full capacity over the four days of the event. Fair Work Inspectors plan to visit employers in the days immediately after the race, to check employees’ time books and to determine if they had their correct meal breaks. Other Fair Work Inspectors will be auditing inside the track on race days, ensuring that event managers, coordinators and sub-contracted companies are complying with national workplace laws.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign SA Fast Food & Take Away Food Satte Campaign
Date 7 January 2010

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  South Australian Fair Work Inspectors are targeting employers across the state in a new Fast Food Retail Campaign.  We plan to inform employers about the new National Employment Standards, and to ensure compliance with national workplace laws and regulations.  Many young workers are employed in the fast food industry during school and university holidays, and we aim to ensure that these vulnerable employees receive their correct entitlements.
Campaign results These will be available when the campaign ends.

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Name of campaign Adelaide Royal Show Time Records and Pay slip Audits
Date September 2009

Campaign Type

 Local Initiative
Campaign summary  Fair Work Ombudsman inspectors will undertake audits at the Royal Adelaide Show to ensure employers are complying with record and payslip obligations despite the short term period of work being performed.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign Pooraka Produce Market Time Record and Pay slip Audit – SA
Date August/ September 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Fair Work inspectors made an early morning market visit to the Pooraka Produce Market, north of Adelaide, in late August. They found 15 employers had no contraventions, while 12 employers had contravened record keeping and pay slip regulations. Contraventions included pay slips with no pay period or superannuation detail. In some cases, employers did not record times worked where penalties would have applied, or they stored time books away from the work site, reducing employee access. All employers voluntarily resolved the issues raised, and, since the audit, complaints from market based employees have dropped significantly.
Campaign results  Pooraka Produce Market Record-keeping and pay slip audit - pdf 49KB

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Name of campaign SA Massage Workers Campaign
Date July 2009 - December 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Fair Work Inspectors initiated an education and audit campaign in Adelaide’s massage industry following reports that masseuses, many from non-English speaking backgrounds, were being underpaid, and were working excessive hours. We found that one employee had been underpaid $773.00, and that six employers had not credited proper entitlements. There were four pay slip contraventions. The employers, who resolved the contraventions voluntarily, demonstrated little knowledge of workplace laws, and inspectors found some language barriers when discussing wages and conditions with workers. A follow up audit is planned.
Campaign results  SA-Massage-Workers-Campaign - pdf 51KB

Name of campaign SA Limestone Coast Record-keeping & Pay Slip Campaign 
Date Started October 2008

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Non-compliance with record keeping and pay slip requirements is an issue across the Limestone region of South Australia. Workers are often reluctant to lodge a compliant for fear of the consequences of current and future employment prospects in a small community. 
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

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Tasmania

Name of campaign Tasmanian Record-keeping Campaign 2009 - 2010
Date started November 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary The Tasmanian Fair Work Ombudsman is beginning a seven month campaign targeting the record keeping and pay slip practices of 150 employers across the state. We have found that employers continue to have difficulty complying with record keeping requirements, and with the content and timely issue of pay slips to their employees. Workers in regional areas are a particular focus, as they may have less opportunity to access information than employees in larger centres. Our education and compliance campaign will provide support for these workers.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign Tasmania’s Unpaid Work Campaign
Date Starting September 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary Fair Work Inspectors in Hobart are targeting employer compliance  with minimum wage and entitlement obligations in the retail and hospitality industries. Their main focus is on employees who are working unpaid before or after their paid shift. Unpaid work may involve preparing the store for trading or cleaning after the paid shift is over.  The Inspectors believe that the issue of unpaid work in the workplace deserves more attention. They’re engaging a range of stakeholders in the campaign process, and intend that employers receive both education and support in compliance. The Inspectors’ first observation point will be Eastlands Shopping Centre in inner Hobart, and the campaign is expected to extend across the state.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

 

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Victoria

Name of campaign Record-keeping Mornington Peninsula Hotels and Restaurants
Date 21 May 2010

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Victorian Fair Work Inspectors are targeting hospitality employers on the Mornington Peninsula and adjoining areas. We are educating hotel and restaurant employers in accurate time and wage record keeping practices, and in recent changes to workplace laws, including the Fair Work Act 2009 and the National Employment Standards.  We are also conducting desk and, where necessary, field audits of 50 hospitality employers. We will audit their time and wage records, and determine the level of employer compliance with correct employee entitlements. We will encourage voluntary compliance with any contraventions.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign Record Keeping Campaign – Manufacturers in Braeside, Reservoir and Coburg
Date 9 April 2010

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Victorian Fair Work Inspectors are continuing their rolling Record Keeping campaign this month with education and compliance visits to manufacturing employers in Braeside in Melbourne’s south east, and Reservoir and Coburg in the inner north. Our team of inspectors will provide employers with information packs, and other educational resources on the Fair Work Act 2009, the National Employment Standards and relevant industrial instruments. We also plan to conduct on site audits of employers’ time and wage records, and pay slip practices.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

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Name of campaign Tongala-Kyabram Regional Record-keeping Campaign
Date February to June 2010

Campaign Type

 Regional
Campaign summary  Fair Work Inspectors visited 35 employers in Tongala, Kyabram and smaller towns in the north-west of Victoria over a two day period in February this year. In the campaign’s education phase, we met with employers, mainly in the retail and hospitality sectors, and provided face to face education in FWO tools and services available to assist employer  awareness of recent changes in workplace laws. In the audit phase, we finalised 26 audits. 12 (46%) employers had no contraventions. 14 (54%) employers were found to have 39 contraventions. The majority of contraventions 28 (72%) were non monetary, and many related to requirements introduced following recent changes in workplace laws. The monetary contravention rate 11 (28%) in this campaign was higher than the average rate of other recent campaigns of equivalent scope. We recovered $8731.00 in underpayments for 22 employees.
Campaign results  Tongala-Kyabram Regional Record-keeping Campaign Final report - pdf 52KB

Name of campaign River Murray Accommodation Record Keeping Campaign
Date 5 February 2010

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Fair Work inspectors are planning a large scale education and compliance campaign targeting small motel employers across 15 cities and towns in the central River Murray. Our focus will range from Albury-Wodonga to Mildura approaching the South Australian border. These cities and towns form a popular tourist hub with many small employers providing accommodation. We are planning an education campaign to increase small business awareness of recent changes to workplace laws. The campaign will also target employers with an audit of their time and wage record keeping, and pay slip requirements.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

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Name of campaign North West Victoria Hairdressing Campaign
Date 2 February 2010

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  The Fair Work Ombudsman is planning an education and compliance campaign for small business hairdressers in the Mallee towns of north west Victoria. These towns are a significant distance from major centres, and small business employers who operate there may have limited awareness of recent changes to workplace laws. With up to 20 small towns in this region, we will contact local stakeholders and hairdressing employers, and provide them with educational support, particularly related to the Fair Work Act 2009 and the National Employment Standards. On the compliance side, we will audit the employers’ time and wages record keeping, and pay slip practices.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign Wonthaggi & Phillip Island Retail and Hospitality Education & Compliance Campaign
Date 18 January 2010

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Fair Work Inspectors from our Melbourne and Traralgon offices are targeting the tourism hub of the Gippsland region of South-Eastern Victoria early next month. Our education and compliance campaign will focus on retail and hospitality employers during the high impact summer trade season. We’ll be presenting seminars, undertake site visits, and will make checks on time and wage keeping records. We also plan to monitor business awareness of the modern awards and National Employment Standards introduced on January 1.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign Victorian Monthly Record Keeping Campaign 2009-2010 - Hamilton
Date 10-11 November 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  10 Victorian Fair Work Inspectors are visiting the western centre of Hamilton to conduct random audits of local businesses. Their visits are a follow on from the successful 2008-09 Record Keeping campaign across regional Victoria, which increased employer awareness and compliance in record keeping and pay slip obligations. A joint Victorian/New South Wales campaign in Albury-Wodonga in September this year achieved similar outcomes. Besides increasing employer compliance, we expect to increase visibility of the Fair Work Ombudsman’s role in regional centres in Victoria.
Campaign results pdf icon Victorian Record-keeping Campaign Hamilton - pdf 56KB

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Name of campaign Vic Record-keeping Campaign - Docklands and Southbank
Date October 2009 - March 2010

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Fair Work Inspectors visited retail and hospitality establishments at Docklands and Southbank along the Yarra in October last year, and have finalised 18 compliance audits of time and wage, and payslip records.  We found 67% of employers had no contraventions, while 33% had contraventions. There were 4 record keeping contraventions, and 2 employers had underpaid 11 workers the amount of $14,605. We are working with the employers to rectify the underpayments. We have 5 ongoing investigations, mainly related to underpayments of employees. Inspectors also distributed Fair Work information packs, and provided education on recent changes to national workplace laws.
Campaign results pdf icon Vic Record-keeping Campaign - Docklands and Southbank - pdf 50KB

Name of campaign Victorian Convenience Store Campaign
Date August 2009 - March 2010

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  This campaign is targeting correct payment of minimum wages, penalties, and record keeping practices in convenience stores in Victoria, focussing on vulnerable employees, including young workers and immigrants. We are working co-operatively with store management to ensure that franchisees have a better understanding and comply with their workplace legal obligations.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign Victorian Monthly Record-keeping Campaign
Date 2 days per month for the 2009/2010 financial year

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Due to the success of the Monthly Record Keeping Campaigns conducted in 2008/2009, Victoria will be continuing the campaigns in 2009/10 targeting a variety of business hubs. The campaign aims to educated employers in and improve compliance with record keeping and payslip obligations.
Campaign results Provided when audits have been completed.

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Name of campaign Royal Melbourne Show - Record-keeping and Wages Campaign update
Date September 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Melbourne Fair Work Inspectors made cold call visits to 27 employers at this year’s Royal Melbourne Show. The inspectors targeted show employers to test if they were compliant in their record keeping and  wages practices. Early results indicate two employers are compliant.  We have asked the majority of employers to produce further evidence before audits can be finalised.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign VIC/NSW Record-keeping Campaign Albury-Wodonga
Date September 2009 - January 2010

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  Fair Work inspectors from our Wagga Wagga, Bendigo and Melbourne offices have conducted a successful record keeping campaign in Albury-Wodonga. They targeted local shopping centres and industrial parks to educate local employers, and audit their record keeping. We recovered a total of $6488 in underpayments to employees, and finalized 191 audits, finding 79% of employers compliant with their record keeping and payslip obligations. All 40 non compliant employers resolved their contraventions voluntarily. We were pleased to find that the compliance rate had increased from previous audits, and that our education initiatives received a positive response from local businesses.
Campaign results  VIC/NSW Albury-Wodonga Record-keeping Campaign - pdf 52KB

Name of campaign Mornington Peninsula Record-keeping Report
Date February 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary  The aim of this campaign was to improve compliance with Commonwealth workplace laws by businesses in shopping centres and industrial parks.
Campaign results  Mornington Peninsula Record-keeping Report - pdf 160KB

 

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Western Australia

Name of campaign Geraldton Record-keeping and Pay Slip Campaign
Date March 2010 - July 2010

Campaign Type

 Regional
Campaign summary Fair Work Inspectors from our Perth office conducted a three day education and compliance campaign with employers in Geraldton, approximately 400 km north of Perth. Geraldton does not have an FWO office, so our targeted campaign was aimed at educating local employers, and auditing their record keeping and pay slip practices. We finalised 129 audits, and found 118 (91%) businesses compliant, while 11 (9%) employers had contravened their pay slip obligations – for example, payment dates, superannuation details or the Australian Business Number had been omitted. All employers voluntarily rectified the contraventions. Possible reasons for the 91% compliance rate may be that many Geraldton businesses in our audit worked from centralised payroll structures. Inspectors also noted that the employers work within an active local business community which provides them with business support and advice. 
Campaign results pdf icon Geraldton Record-keeping and Pay Slip Campaign Final Report - pdf 60KB

Name of campaign Kimberley & Pilbara Regions Record Keeping Campaign
Date started 19 January 2010

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary Fair Work inspectors from our Broome office are travelling long distances to ensure employer record keeping is in order in remote Western Australia. This new campaign in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions will take our inspectors 800 km south to Port Hedland, and 200 km further south to Karratha, besides campaign visits to local employers in Broome. They are targeting the main industries in the area – hospitality, retail and engineering. While the inspectors will be checking local employer records, their main aim will be education – to bring local employers and stakeholders in these remote areas up to date with recent changes in workplace relations law.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

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Name of campaign Kalgoorlie-Esperance 2009 Compliance check
Date November 2009 - June 2010

Campaign Type

 Audit program
Campaign summary Fair Work Inspectors from our Kalgoorlie office conducted an audit program in Kalgoorlie and the southern coastal town of Esperance. We had three aims: to follow up previously non compliant employers, to gather evidence on employers allegedly not paying minimum wage rates, and investigate confidential complaints. Inspectors targeted 30 employers in local industries including retail, engineering, hospitality and mining, and successfully finalised 22 audits. The campaign achieved 82% compliance, three (14%) employers contravened record keeping and pay slip requirements, and one employer contravened by underpaying 16 employees. The underpayment of $3188 was made good to the workers promptly.
Campaign results  Kalgoorlie-Esperence compliance check final report - pdf 59KB

Name of campaign Albany, Denmark and Mt Barker Record-keeping Campaign
Date Starting September 2009 - May 2010

Campaign Type

 Local initiative
Campaign summary Fair Work Inspectors from our Bunbury office in Western Australia are working on a wide focus campaign throughout the south west and Great Southern regions. They are targeting large and smaller businesses in regional towns, and covering all industry groups. We are currently auditing up to 40 employers in the regional centres of Albany, Denmark and Mt Barker to ensure that staff are being paid correctly, and that employers are keeping accurate records. The statewide campaign continues until May 2010.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

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Name of campaign

Southern Region Record Keeping Targeted Campaign

Date September 2009

Campaign Type

 Local initiative
Campaign summary Fair Work Inspectors from WA’s Bunbury office are planning a wide focus campaign throughout the south west and Great Southern regions of Western Australia, which will target record keeping in large and smaller businesses in regional towns.  The campaign will cover all industry groups in the area. It will have both an education and a compliance focus, will specifically target time, wage and leave records, payslips, and will provide education for employers on the new s117 termination obligations of the Fair Work Act 2009.
Campaign results This will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign Hungry Jack's - Fast Food Local Initiative WA
Date September 2009

Campaign Type

 Local initiative
Campaign summary In September, Fair Work inspectors visited 12 Hungry Jack’s sites in Perth. The aim of the visits was to determine if the employer’s time and wage records had been properly maintained, and to assess the evidence against the relevant Agreement. Inspectors checked the records of 122 Hungry Jack’s employees, and found that the employer was compliant with Commonwealth workplace laws.
Campaign results pdf icon Hungry Jack's - Fast Food Local Initiative WA - pdf 50KB

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Name of campaign Broome Regional Campaign
Date March 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary Fair Work Inspectors from our Broome office are conducting an education  and compliance campaign between March and April 2009 in remote areas of northern Western Australia. These areas include Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing, towns that have not previously been included in a workplace audit. The campaign will target the education of employers working in remote areas, and their practices in paying their workers the correct hourly rate. We will also carry out a compliance audit of time and wage records, and of pay slip requirements. The campaign will reinforce the ongoing presence of the FWO in remote and regional areas.
Campaign results These will be available when the campaign ends.

Name of campaign Kalgoorlie Security Industry Campaign
Date September 2008 - September 2009

Campaign Type

 State
Campaign summary Fair Work Inspectors have audited employers in Kalgoorlie’s security industry, recovering $139,370 for 26 employees. We found that employers were paying workers flat rates, and not covering relevant penalties and allowances. The majority of employers voluntarily complied with the audit, and have since negotiated collective agreements with their staff. Further FWO education is indicated to increase employer awareness of Award provisions.
Campaign results pdf icon Kalgoorlie Security Industry Campaign Report - pdf 54KB

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