Describing a recent investigation of 49 fast food, café and restaurant businesses in Melbourne’s Degraves Street and Hardware Lane and Brisbane’s West End, this report outlines the recovery of $1,212,727 in unpaid wages to potentially vulnerable young workers such as university students.

In June 2014 the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) commenced an Inquiry into allegations that significant underpayment of wages and falsification of employment records were occurring across much of the franchisee network of Australia’s leading convenience retailer, 7-Eleven Australia Pty Ltd (7-Eleven) [ACN 005 299 427]...

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) conducted an audit program in the horse racing industry in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. We initiated the NSW/QLD/VIC Horse racing industry audit program (the program) in response to information we received alleging underpayments of strappers and stable hands...

In late 2011, we identified unpaid work in Australia as a growing issue that needed our attention. We decided that further research was needed in this area so we could understand it better. We asked Adelaide University Law School Professor Andrew Stewart and Rosemary Owens...