ABMENG Pty Ltd, Jay Parker fined over Fair Work breaches

A Sunshine Coast-based business, which operated across the country, has copped tens-of-thousands in fines after the court found it failed to pay employees their leave entitlements, court documents have revealed.

Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

A Sunshine Coast business has copped tens-of-thousands of dollars in fines after the court found it failed to pay employees their leave entitlements, court documents have revealed.

The company ABMENG Pty Ltd, which specialised in industrial equipment, faced the Fair Work Ombudsman in the Federal Court after failing to comply with notice issues regarding the treatment of employees.

The staff who sought assistance from the ombudsman were employed in full-time customer service, sales and engineering roles with the company.

The Federal Court fined the company $56,000 and the company’s sole director, Jay Parker, copped an additional $11,000 fine. No criminal charges were laid.

The affected employees worked in Melbourne and Perth between March and July in 2021.

According to Fair Work, ABMENG Pty Ltd operated as ABM (AUS) Pty Ltd during the court proceedings which began in January this year.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the “substantial” fines were welcomed after the compliance notices were issued in 2022 regarding the underpayment of staff and the withholding of leave entitlements.

“The substantial penalties in this case are welcomed against respondents who have failed to pay the majority of what the three workers were owed more than two years after the Compliance Notice was issued,” Ms Booth said.

“When Compliance Notices and Notices to Produce are not followed, we are prepared to take legal action to ensure we can fully investigate matters and ensure workers receive their lawful entitlements.

“Any employees with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact us for free advice and assistance.”

Federal Court judge Allyson Ladhams described Mr Parker’s conduct as “serious and deliberate”, adding the penalty needed to provide a sting after he was also penalised in 2008 for underpaying workers more than $14,000.

A separate Federal Court order from December 6, 2024, revealed ABMENG Pty Ltd was to be wound up in insolvency after an application was made by the Deputy Commissioner of Taxation.