Many farmers are continuing to defy workplace laws designed to protect vulnerable workers, including failing to provide them with proper payslips, a compliance push by the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has found.
Since December, inspectors have targeted more than 200 farms across the country and found that in some areas as many as 60% were non-compliant with workplace laws. It’s a result the National Farmer’s Federation (NFF) described as “troubling”.
It comes after new laws requiring farmers to start paying a minimum wage to pickers under the horticultural award came into effect in April.
The FWO would not say if any of the infringements were to do with the award changes, but compliance notices are typically served to employers when they have underpaid workers.
