Written on Tea owner Rebecca Lin Cong was caught by the Fair Work Ombudsman paying overseas workers between $10 and $11 an hour.
Ms Cong operates Written on Tea restaurants in Bathurst St, Hobart, and Sandy Bay Rd, Sandy Bay.
The restaurants shot to prominence last November when engaged to cater for staff and officials travelling with the Chinese President during his one-day visit to Hobart.
“Ms Cong felt she was giving the employees an opportunity to work and earn an income and did not believe she should have to pay them full award wages,” Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said.
A 30-year-old Chinese woman in Australia on a working holiday visa was short-changed $3500 in five weeks in February and March.
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated after a complaint from a former employee and found Ms Cong was paying well below lawful minimum entitlements.
Ms Cong has been required to pay the worker all outstanding entitlements and signed an undertaking to encourage behavioural change and compliance with workplace laws.
Ms Cong has agreed to employ an external professional to audit workplace practices over the coming 12 months and to develop systems to ensure compliance with workplace laws and to resolve all future workplace disputes promptly – and report details to the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Workplace notices detailing the company’s breaches have been displayed in English and Mandarin at both restaurants.
Ms James said employers could not undercut minimum wages because they did not think an employee was worth the money.
“And those who think they can exploit vulnerable overseas workers in order to reduce business costs need to think again,” she said.
“We use enforceable undertakings where we have formed a view that a breach of the law has occurred, but where the employer has acknowledged this and accepted responsibility and agreed to co-operate and fix the problem.” |
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