Senator Lundy has today called for the ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry to apologise for the comments it made last year dismissing allegations that were made by skilled migrant workers against four Canberra restaurants.
Yesterday the Federal Magistrates Court handed down $50,000 in penalties, plus $5,400 in unpaid wages including interest, to The Italian Eatery Pty Ltd, trading as Zeffirelli Pizza Restaurant.
Late last month the Federal Magistrates Court fined Harrington Corporation Pty Ltd, trading as Pangaea Bar and Restaurant, $64,000 for breaching the Liquor and Allied Industries Catering, Café, Restaurant (ACT) Award 1998 and Workplace Relations Act 1996.
Now that the Federal Magistrates Court has found that Zeffirellis and Pangaea Bar and Restaurant failed to comply with their legal obligations to their employees, when is the ACT Chamber of Commerce going to acknowledge the validity of these workers claims?
The ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Chris Peters enthusiastically defended restaurants involved in now proven breaches.
When the allegations were first made in February 2006, Mr. Peters told the Canberra Times in relation to the allegations made against Zeffirellis:
This is devastating for the restaurant. A successful restaurant in Canberra that’s always done the right thing by its staff and it has been shown to be doing the right thing now…has been named in Parliament and subject to ridicule in the community.
The ACT Chamber of Commerce should acknowledge they were wrong to dismiss the seriousness of the workers claims. The Chamber and Mr. Peters ought to understand employment law as it is his job to advise his member businesses.
The Chamber also has a responsibility to protect businesses paying the correct rates from unfair competition from businesses undercutting on wages.
“I welcome the Federal Magistrates Courts decisions to order repayment of wages, with interest, owing to these vulnerable migrant workers”, Senator Lundy said.
“When employers underpay workers, they risk bringing the entire hospitality industry into disrepute. Hopefully this decision will make any other employers who are ripping their employees off take their obligations seriously”, Senator Lundy commented.
“I call on the ACT Chamber of Commerce to set the record straight and apologise to the workers affected for failing to take their claims seriously”, Senator Lundy concluded.
Contact: Rachel Allen – 0418 488 295
