The Fair Work Ombudsman is inspecting fast food outlets, restaurants and cafés in Melbourne's north-eastern suburbs this week to ensure workers are getting the right pay.
Fair Work Inspectors are targeting 27 food businesses within the Manningham City Council suburbs of Doncaster, Doncaster East, Bulleen, Templestowe, Park Orchards and Warrandyte.
They are speaking with business owners, managers and employees on the ground, and requesting records.
Businesses were chosen for inspection based on intelligence including anonymous reports, prior history of alleged non-compliance, or employment of vulnerable staff such as young people and visa holders.
The inspections are part of the FWO's national Food Precincts Program, which assesses compliance with the Fair Work Act in food precincts which have a high number of 'cheap eats' venues.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the agency continues to prioritise assisting vulnerable or 'at risk' workers, such as young people and visa holders, who are heavily represented in the fast food, restaurants and cafés sector.
"Fair Work Inspectors will be on the ground in Melbourne's Manningham area this week holding employers to account if they are not following workplace laws," Ms Booth said.
"The fast food, restaurants and cafés sector employs many young workers and visa holders who can be unaware of their workplace rights or unwilling to speak up. Unfortunately, we've found a high rate of non-compliance through our Food Precincts Program inspections nationwide; it seems that employees often pay the price of low-cost dining.
"We urge workers with concerns about their wages and entitlements to reach out to us - including anonymously if preferred. Employers should access our free tools and resources to ensure they're meeting their obligations, or contact the FWO directly for free advice."
Inspectors are on alert for underpaid base rates and penalty rates; employees not getting the right meal breaks; not getting paid for all hours worked, and not receiving payslips.
Previous inspections in Melbourne's inner south and inner west resulted in $684,543 in wages recovered for 1,004 workers. In Melbourne's south-east, $58,000 was back-paid to 121 food outlet workers following surprise inspections and investigations.
The FWO has recovered more than $1.2 million for workers in Melbourne's fast food, restaurants and cafés sector after Food Precincts Program inspections.
The FWO has interactive tools to help employers and employees in the fast food, restaurants and cafés sector, and for any franchisees. Employers can also use the FWO's pay calculator and Small Business Showcase.
The FWO also has resources for visa holder workers - who have the same workplace rights as other workers - and young workers.
