Two Victorian fast-food businesses have been hit with hundreds of charges for allegedly failing to comply with child labour laws, as the state's watchdog cracks down on hospitality and retail franchises.
Wage Inspectorate Victoria has charged Red Rooster Wodonga and Cold Rock Shepparton with breaching the Child Employment Act in what commissioner Robert Hortle told 7.30 were "really serious allegations" with "extremely serious consequences".
Red Rooster's Wodonga franchise is facing 355 criminal charges of employing 10 children under the age of 15 without a permit on 168 occasions, failing to ensure the children are supervised by someone with a Working with Children Clearance, employing children for more hours than they are permitted to work, and employing them later than 9pm.
