Vic: Victorian ski fields casuals underpaid by $22,000

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2009
Vic: Victorian ski fields casuals underpaid by $22,000

MELBOURNE, April 17 AAP - Victorian ski resorts will fork out $22,000 to almost 40
casual employees who were underpaid during last year's snow season.

The state's Workplace Ombudsman launched an investigation into snowfields employers
after it received complaints from casual workers during the 2007 ski season.

Workplace Ombudsman Victorian Director Rhonda Murray said the complaints included failure
to pay minimum rates, unlawful deductions from wages and termination issues.

The ombudsman's office also sent out information to employers at Mount Buller, Falls
Creek, Mount Hotham, Dinner Plains and Mount Baw Baw as part of the campaign.

Workplace inspectors from Bendigo and Traralgon offices then randomly audited 45 hospitality
and service industries at the Victorian snowfields between June and September last year.

Ms Murray said inspectors found 38 casual workers had been underpaid a total of $22,000,
which was being paid voluntarily by the businesses involved.

"Given that the snowfields attract many young, unskilled and inexperienced workers
who could be vulnerable to exploitation, it was felt that a targeted education and compliance
campaign was warranted," she said.

Ms Murray said random spot audits would be undertaken again this year during the snow season.

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KEYWORD: SKI

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