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

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.