State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, is calling on the Government to take immediate action to end exploitative business practices after it was alleged that 15 workers were underpaid more than $22,000 by a business in Fletcher.
Ms Hornery will move a Notice of Motion in the NSW Parliament calling on the Government to do more to protect vulnerable young workers from being exploited and cheated out of wages by unscrupulous bosses.
Most of the workers at the business in Fletcher were aged between 16 and 20 and the Ombudsman who is investigating the matter has been critical about the blatant nature of the alleged offences.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“Everyone has the right to be paid fairly and correctly for the work they perform, but what we are seeing right now is widespread abuse of mostly young workers in our community by some unscrupulous bosses.”
“Last week we saw allegations that 15 young people at a restaurant in the Wallsend electorate have been underpaid more than $22,500.”
“Since then there has been a flood of calls and message to my office from young people who have been underpaid or ripped off by their employers.”
“The amounts are staggering and it is evident that some employers are taking advantage of young workers in our community.”
“Very low flat rates of pay, not being paid for the first few weeks of training and not being paid for the hours actually worked are the most common issues workers have raised with me.”
“I am pleased that Luke Foley has unveiled a five point plan to help protect young workers and I will be moving a Notice of Motion in Parliament this week calling on the Government to do more to protect workers.”
“We need to target these unscrupulous employers and make sure we have severe penalties in place for individuals who blatantly rip off workers.”