Fair Work Australia Announces Campaign Focusing on the Structural Metal Products Industry

The Fair Work Ombudsman (the FWO), in its media release last week, announced a new campaign focussing on employers in the structural metal manufacturing industry and including companies  that produce metal products used in the construction of buildings and other structures such as doors, gates, window frames, staircases, trusses, scaffolding, sheds and gutters.

Initially, the campaign will have an educational focus however,  in late in 2012, the FWO intends to contact a sample of approximately 250 employers nationally, requesting them to provide their employment records for audit.

The FWO will be focusing on ensuring that employers are paying the correct minimum rates of pay, penalty rates, loading and allowances, as well as ensuring appropriate employment records are being maintained.

In the media release (dated 13 April 2012), Nick Wilson (the FWO), stated as follows:

“If inspectors find minor or inadvertent contraventions, our preference will be to educate the employer and assist them to voluntarily rectify the issue.

Obviously, in those cases where a contravention is blatant or employers are not willing to promptly resolve an issue, we may escalate the audit to a full investigation.”

If you have any questions or would like more information about this article, please contact National Workplace Lawyers on +61 2 9233 3989. 

National Workplace Lawyers

Note — this is for information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to render legal advice.