Sunshine Coast eateries face inspections
The Fair Work Ombudsman is inspecting fast food outlets, restaurants and cafés in the Sunshine Coast’s Noosa Heads, Noosaville and Tewantin this week to check for underpayments.
Fair Work Inspectors are visiting 34 businesses to interview managers and employees on-site in the popular food precincts. They are focusing on checking records and pay slips, as well as any use of unpaid work, among other possible breaches. Investigations will continue long afterwards.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said this round of inspections aims to assess whether Sunshine Coast employers in this sector have improved their compliance since 2023. Inspections back then resulted in more than $220,000 recovered for 447 underpaid workers.
“Inspectors are on the ground on the Sunshine Coast this week, revisiting several businesses that had previously been found non-compliant, while also checking businesses for which we have new intelligence,” Ms Booth said.
“Inspectors are back to hold employers to account if they are not following workplace laws, including due to any unpaid work.”
Businesses were selected for inspection based on prior non-compliance history, anonymous reports and/or employment of workers that are vulnerable to exploitation, such as visa holders. Most of the eateries are ‘cheap eats’ venues.
In addition, the regulator is teaming up with the Department of Home Affairs to inspect a number of sites, with Australian Border Force (ABF) officers from the Sponsor Monitoring Unit (SMU) providing employers with information about migrant worker protections under the Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance) Act, which came into effect in July last year to combat the exploitation of temporary migrant workers.
As part of the joint operation, ABF SMU officers are visiting regional hospitality businesses to raise awareness of employer sponsorship obligations and the protections available to temporary migrant workers under the Migration Amendment Act.
The operation is focused on detecting, deterring and disrupting breaches of sponsorship obligations and the exploitation of sponsored workers, while also educating workers and employers as part of a broader SMU-led national initiative.
“Employers who fail to meet their sponsorship obligations or seek to exploit vulnerable workers can expect to face heavy penalties,” ABF SMU Superintendent Jason Boyd said.
“These operations are a key part of our efforts to uphold the integrity of Australia’s skilled visa programs.”
The Australian Government has introduced the Strengthening Reporting Protections Pilot and Workplace Justice Visa Pilot to address migration-related barriers that can deter temporary migrants from reporting exploitation or seeking workplace justice. The Department of Home Affairs is administering both pilot programs.
Ms Booth said protecting vulnerable workers and improving compliance in the fast food, restaurants and cafés sector were priorities for the regulator.
“These inspections are part of a national Food Precincts Program where we’ve often found that low-cost dining comes at the expense of workers’ lawful wages.
“This sector engages many young workers and visa holders who can be vulnerable, as they are often unaware of their workplace rights or unwilling to speak up.
“We won’t hesitate to take enforcement action if needed.
“We urge workers with concerns about wages and entitlements to reach out to us - including anonymously if preferred. It is crucial visa holders know that they have the same workplace rights as all other workers.
“Employers should access our free tools and resources to ensure they’re meeting their obligations, or contact us directly for free advice.”
Inspectors are also on alert for unlawfully low flat rates of pay; “off the books” employment arrangements; non-payment of penalty rates and overtime rates; inadequate or false record-keeping and pay slips; unpaid trials and more.
The FWO’s surprise inspections under the Food Precincts Program have also taken place in Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra’s north and Queanbeyan in NSW, Newcastle, Adelaide, Darwin, Launceston and Hobart.
In 2023–24, the regulator recovered $5.6 million for more than 3000 underpaid fast food outlet, restaurant and café workers nationally.
The FWO has interactive tools for employers and employees in the fast food, restaurants and cafés sector, and any franchisees.
Employers can use the FWO’s pay calculator and Small Business Showcase. Small businesses can also self-audit with this checklist.
We also have resources for visa holders and young workers. Know a workplace not doing the right thing but don’t want to get involved? Report it anonymously – in your language.
Employers and employees can visit www.fairwork.gov.au or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 for free advice and assistance. An interpreter service is available on 13 14 50.
Fair Work Ombudsman, 19th June 2025
