Kassiou Constructions: Top End builder ordered to pay former employee’s accrued leave

A Top End builder that’s left a trail of incomplete builds in its wake has been ordered by a court to calculate and pay accrued annual leave entitlements owed by a former employee.

Louis and Ilias Kassiou, whose company Kassiou Constructions Pty Ltd has been ordered to pay former employee Paul Andrade’s accrued annual leave entitlements. Picture: Facebook

An under-fire Top End builder that left a trail of incomplete builds in its wake and vanished without a trace has been ordered to pay a former employee’s accrued annual leave entitlements after the company and one of its directors failed to file defences.

The Fair Work Ombudsman filed a claim in September against Kassiou Constructions Pty Ltd, owned by relatives Louis and Ilias Kassiou, over the company’s failure to pay out a former employee’s annual leave entitlements accrued between 2012–21.

Ilias Kassiou was also named personally in the proceedings, in his capacity as director of the company, due to his involvement in the failure to respond to a compliance notice issued to the company by the ombudsman last year.

Judge Tass Liveris during the ceremonial sitting to welcome him as a judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, based in Darwin. Picture: Jason Walls

Earlier this month, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Judge Anastasis (Tass) Liveris entered default judgment against the company, which did not respond to the claim, and summary judgment against Ilias, who admitted his noncompliance with the notice and indicated he would not defend the action.

Judge Liveris ordered the company and Ilias Kassiou to calculate the accrued annual leave entitlements of its former employee, Paul Andrade, and pay him what he is owed within 28 days of the order.

The respondents were also ordered to pay interest on the benefits owed to Mr Andrade.

A Kassiou Constructions residential build from 2017 when the company was at the height of its powers. Picture: Kassiou Constructions

The matter will return to the court on May 6 to determine what penalty will be imposed on Kassiou Constructions and Ilias.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth previously said the company could face a fine worth $46,950 for breaching the Fair Work Act.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth appears at the Employment and Workplace Relations 2024-25 Budget estimates at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Shortly after the proceedings were launched in September, it was revealed Kassiou Constructions had ceased work on a number of residential dwellings in the greater Darwin area, forcing about half a dozen customers to seek costly alternatives to finish off the builds.

The company is yet to be formally liquidated, despite wiping its social media accounts and website, and advertising itself as ‘permanently closed’ on its Google business page.

Louis and Ilias Kassiou were both contacted for comment via mobile phone numbers registered with the Building Practitioners Board.

The board has suspended Kassiou Constructions’ registration due to “alleged professional misconduct” and restricted both Ilias’ and Louis’ registrations.

The latter’s registration has now lapsed.

Originally published as Kassiou Constructions: Top End builder ordered to pay former employee’s accrued leave