Small business owners fear the Morrison government's plan to criminalise wage theft may unfairly target those who make "honest mistakes" and are demanding changes to the award system to make it easier for them to pay workers correctly.
Australia's industrial relations umpire Iain Ross says he understands the concerns, agreeing the system could be difficult to navigate. Fair Work Commission president Iain Ross says more simplification is needed to help employers pay staff correctly."I do think we can do more to assist small business to meet their obligations and I agree with the proposition that most small business owners do try and do the right thing," said the Fair Work Commission president, who last year launched a review of the nation's award system.
Council of Small Business Organisations president Peter Strong said if the prime minister went ahead with criminal sanctions, he must also address the "complexity" of the modern award system, which he argued made it too easy to accidentally underpay staff.
Small Business and Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell says award are more complex than most people realise.Former Masterchef star George Calombaris has said he did not realise the company he is a director of,The company was last week ordered to repay the wages along with a $200,000 contrition payment, which
Dana_Adele why should small business be above the law? for the same reason she wasn't charged with manslaughter when Katie Bender was killed.
Dana_Adele How do you 'mistake' 8 million dollars?
Dana_Adele If a person has gone into debt to pay bills, the employer should not only pay the what's owed, but the interest payable for their debt.
Dana_Adele Mistakes with money are rarely honest.
Dana_Adele I know 23 staff of a SB in Rhodes who have not been paid for 6 weeks nor has there super been paid in for 6 months & one persons salary sacrifice of $11,000 for 6 months has not been paid. Is that a mistake. NO it is NOT a mistake its theft. All directors should go to goal
Dana_Adele How often do honest mistakes accidentally overpay?
Dana_Adele So some small businesses are running scared because they obviously pay incorrectly, how they do this when there is a base rate for an hourly wage is beyond me, how they do this for years and get away with it astonishes, the excuses they make don’t surprise me any more, thieves
Dana_Adele Given how often it happens it can't be an 'honest' mistake