1 October 2009
Victorian 7-Eleven stores to be audited in new campaign
The national pay protector will audit more than 60 of Victoria’s 7-Eleven stores.
The Fair Work Ombudsman will undertake a joint campaign with the franchisor.
Letters have been sent to 63 7-Eleven stores asking franchisees to supply time-and-wages sheets and other employment records.
Fair Work inspectors and the 7-Eleven franchisor will jointly scrutinise the records to check staff are being paid correctly.
The audits will also monitor levels of compliance with record-keeping obligations under federal workplace relations laws.
The workplace watchdog says the campaign may be widened to include every 7-Eleven store in the State if issues of concern are identified.
The Agency has also flagged possible surprise night-time visits and interviews with both franchisees and staff.
The campaign follows random audits of convenience stores in both Melbourne and Sydney which recouped more than $162,000 for about 168 underpaid workers.
Fair Work Ombudsman Executive Director Michael Campbell says issues identified by inspectors included:
- workers not being paid for some hours worked,
- non-payment of weekend and night penalty rates, and
- non-compliance with record-keeping and payslip obligations.
Five 7-Eleven stores in Melbourne’s CBD have been asked to reimburse 88 workers $112,000 and a sixth store has been instructed to credit almost 1000 hours of annual leave to 12 staff who should have been accruing the entitlement.
“To the credit of the franchisor of Victoria’s 7-Eleven stores, it shares our concerns with the issues identified and agreed to assist us in this extensive State-wide campaign,” Mr Campbell said.
He says workplace inspectors will work to secure back-payments for workers found to have been underpaid and provide education and assistance to 7-Eleven franchisees to help them meet their obligations under workplace laws.
“A significant number of 7-Eleven workers, such as young people, foreign students and migrants from non-English speaking backgrounds, are vulnerable to being underpaid and exploited because they are often not aware of their workplace rights or are reluctant to complain,” Mr Campbell said.
“We are committed to ensuring these workers are being treated fairly and to increasing their awareness of their workplace rights and the role of the Fair Work Ombudsman.
“It is important these workers know there is a committed regulator they can turn to if they are concerned they are not being treated fairly. Complaints can be made anonymously and confidentially.”
The 7-Eleven audits will start this month and be conducted over several months.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has more than 60 workplace inspectors in Victoria at offices in Melbourne, Traralgon, Bendigo and Warrnambool.
The Fair Work Ombudsman promotes harmonious, productive and co-operative workplaces. It also monitors compliance and investigates breaches of national workplace laws.
Employers or employees seeking assistance should contact the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 or visit www.fwo.gov.au. For translations call 13 14 50.
Media inquiries:
Craig Bildstien, Director Media & Stakeholder Relations,
0419 818 484
craig.bildstien@fwo.gov.au
Ryan Pedler, Media & Stakeholder Relations Senior Adviser
(03) 9954 2561, 0434 365 924
ryan.pedler@fwo.gov.au