Mangroves Bar and Grill convicted, fined over child employment breaches

A Barwon Heads fish and chip shop has been convicted and fined for breaking state child employment laws.

Mangrove Bar and Grill in Barwon Heads, which has now closed, was convicted and fined for breaching child employment laws. Picture: Facebook

A Barwon Heads fish and chip shop has been convicted and fined $4000 for breaking state child employment laws.

Mangroves Bar Pty Ltd, trading under Mangroves Bar and Grill, pleaded guilty at the Melbourne Magistrates Court to employing a child under the age of 15 for more than six hours a day, without a permit and for not providing a 30 minute rest break every three hours.

The Geelong Advertiser reported in October last year the employer faced six charges after a 13-year-old was allegedly working at the shop without a permit in January 2022.

Authorities told the Addy at the time a further four charges related to the business allegedly allowing the child to work shifts of more than six hours and four charges related to failing to provide proper rest breaks.

Victoria’s child employment laws only allow employees under the age of 15 to work three hours per day during the school term and six hours per day during school holidays.

The business on Hitchcock Ave has closed but it is still registered according to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Wage Inspectorate Victoria, the state’s child employment regulator, commenced an investigation into the business after it applied for a child employment permit but withdrew the application when it was asked to provide more information.

Investigators discovered the business had proceeded to employ the child without a permit.

They also found it had breached other conditions relating to the child’s employment.

Magistrate Kathryn Fawcett said it is abundantly clear that the Child Employment Act operates to protect children from performing work that could be harmful to their health or safety.

She said it was an “aggravating factor” the business was aware of the permit requirements but proceeded to employ the child without it.

Wage Inspectorate Victoria commissioner Robert Hortle said the “biggest risk” when the laws are broken is that a child ends up “seriously hurt”.

“This matter serves as a warning to any business considering shirking child employment laws,” he said.

“The permit system enables us to ensure matters like safety, hours of work, rest breaks and supervision are properly considered. There’s no excuse for not having one, particularly if you already know the rules.”

Originally published as Mangroves Bar and Grill convicted, fined over child employment breaches