Four overseas workers at Crust Pizza outlet unlawfully paid much less than Australian colleagues

Four overseas workers at a Crust Pizza outlet were unlawfully paid much less than their Australian colleagues because they were migrants.

Four overseas workers employed at a Crust Pizza outlet in Hobart were unlawfully paid much less than their Australian colleagues because they were migrants.

Four overseas workers employed at a Crust Pizza outlet in Hobart were unlawfully paid much less than their Australian colleagues because they were migrants, the workplace regulator alleges.

Three Bangladeshi nationals and one Indian national were paid a flat hourly rate in cash of $12 for all hours worked, plus $1 per pizza delivery. They were allegedly underpaid almost $10,000 in just six months.

The four workers allegedly suffered a significant underpayment of the ordinary hourly rates, casual and evening loadings and penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work they were entitled to under the Fast Food Industry Award.

In contrast, it is alleged that Australian employees at the Crust Pizza outlet were paid higher minimum rates of pay and penalty rates, including being paid penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work and a cents-per-kilometre rate for deliveries.

Six of the adult Australian employees were paid ordinary rates of more than $18 an hour and three were paid penalty rates of up to $46.31 on public holidays. The Australian workers were allegedly also paid into their bank accounts and provided with pay slips.

However, it is alleged that the incorrect application of some provisions in the Award resulted in 10 Australian workers being underpaid a total of $6252. The foreign workers and all Australian workers have been back-paid in full.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against the operators of the franchise outlet, alleging they discriminated against four overseas workers by paying them much less than Australian employees.

Facing the Federal Circuit Court is QHA Foods Pty Ltd, which operates the Crust outlet on Elizabeth Street in North Hobart. Also facing Court are two of the company’s directors and shareholders, Anandh Kumarasamy and Haridas Raghuram, who were involved in managing the outlet.

The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges QHA Foods, Mr Kumarasamy and Mr Raghuram committed several breaches of workplace laws, including the provision of the Fair Work Act that makes it unlawful to discriminate against employees on the basis of their nationality.

The four workers, who were in Australia on student visas at the time, performed duties including making and garnishing pizzas, delivery driving, serving customers and cleaning.

QHA Foods, Mr Kumarasamy and Mr Raghuram allegedly breached workplace laws during the investigation by providing inspectors with records that had been altered by the deletion of the record of hours worked by the four overseas workers.

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said the regulator investigated after receiving a request for assistance from an overseas worker.

“We allege that four migrant workers were paid significantly less than other staff at a Crust pizza franchisee because they were not Australian. Migrant workers have the same rights and entitlements as Australian workers and must be paid according to our national awards,” Ms Parker said.

She said it was concerning that the case again involved operators allegedly breaching the workplace rights of an employee from the same cultural background.

“Employers should note that we are prioritising matters involving requests for assistance from migrant workers as they can be particularly vulnerable in the workplace and reluctant to complain,’ she said

QHA Foods Pty Ltd faces maximum penalties of up to $54,000 per breach and Mr Kumarasamy, Mr Raghuram face penalties of up to $10,800 per breach.

The Fair Work Ombudsman is also seeking a Court Order requiring QHA Foods to commission workplace relations training for managerial staff.

A directions hearing is listed in the Federal Circuit Court in Hobart on November 23.