Deputy ABC Commissioner (Field Operations) Michael Campbell today announced that the ABCC’s concreting and finishing trades audit was underway and being rolled out across Australia.
Deputy ABC Commissioner Campbell said the audits were focused on educating employers in the concreting, painting, plastering, gyprocking and tiling trades about their workplace rights and obligations and assisting them comply with workplace laws.
“We will be auditing the books of approximately 240 businesses in coming months to ensure that employers in these trades have the information they need to comply with workplace laws and are paying their employees correctly” said Mr Campbell.
“Many of the underpayments we uncover are the result of honest mistakes and these audits allow us to work with employers to get things right.”
The announcement of the national audit comes as the ABCC recovered $7265 for nine plasters following an investigation in a south eastern suburb of Melbourne.
The ABC Inspectors found that the employer had overlooked a wage increase that took effect on 1 March 2011, and incorrectly calculated the hourly rate for casual workers.
The recovery contributes to the $205,000 the ABCC has recovered for workers in the last 12 months.
“Once the ABCC inspectors contacted the business and explained the employer’s obligations the employees were reimbursed immediately and without the need for further action” Mr Campbell said.
“In matters such as this the ABCC’s preference is to work with employers to bring about voluntary compliance, and ensure that businesses continue to pay workers correctly in the future.
“My advice to employers is don’t wait for an ABC Inspector to call you, visit our website or pick up the phone and call us for advice.”
The ABCC has published information on its website regarding the audit which can be downloaded from the concreting and finishing trades audits webpage.
The ABCC promotes fair and productive building and construction work. It also monitors compliance and investigates breaches of national workplace legislation.
Employers or employees in the building and construction industry seeking advice should contact the ABCC Hotline on 1800 003 338 or visit www.abcc.gov.au