180 underpaid staff to get back pay
A Sydney restaurateur must reimburse underpaid 180 employees to the tune of $679,000.
Under an Enforceable Undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman, Sadamatsu Katsuyoshi will make back-payments to staffs who were working at four of his restaurants.
The underpayments occurred in 2008 and 2009 as a result of collective agreements later found to be invalid because they were based on inadequate pay rates.
Payments of $301,943 will be distributed amongst 82 employees at Masuya Japanese Seafood Restaurant on O’Connell Street, $162,075 and to 39 employees at Dining Bar Musashi on Pitt Street and $131,260 to 32 employees at Sushi Bar Makoto on Liverpool Street in Sydney’s CBD and $83,913 to 27 employees at Sushi Bar Makoto on Victoria Avenue, Chatswood in Sydney’s North.
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman the restaurants were owned by Mr Sadamatsu and members of his family during the period of underpayments. Sushi Bar Makoto and Dining Bar Musashi were sold and the family is no longer involved in the running of the other two restaurants.
As part of an Enforceable Undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman, Mr Sadamatsu agreed to apologise to affected employees, undertake workplace relations compliance training and report on systems he has developed to ensure future compliance with workplace laws and report on his employment details for the next three years to illustrate he is complying with workplace laws.
Foreign workers will find information about their rights at work on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website – www.fairwork.gov.au.
Information is presented in 27 languages, 13 short videos presented by native speakers have been posted at www.youtube.com/fairworkgovau to assist foreign workers, including international students.
An ‘Industries’ section on the website provides extra, specialised information for employers and employees in the retail, cleaning, clerical, hair and beauty, security, horticulture, fast food and hospitality industries.
Employers or employees seeking free advice or assistance can also contact the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94. A free interpreter service is available by calling 13 14 50.
