Fair Work inspectors have recovered over $60,000 in unpaid earnings for 238 employees in a blitz across the country.
Inspectors audited a total of 252 retailers throughout South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
They found found 69 per cent (175) were fully compliant with pay-related laws and 79 per cent (199) were compliant with record-keeping and pay slip laws.
However, inspectors recovered a total of $60,088 for 238 employees at 48 businesses.
WA had the highest compliance rate for payment laws at 80 per cent. In the NT, just 51 per cent of the 45 retailers audited were fully compliant with payment laws.
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said the findings indicate that some employers still need to pay greater attention to their workplace obligations.
“However, it was pleasing to see all of the employers accept our assistance, voluntarily back-pay their workers and put processes in place to ensure ongoing compliance,” she said.
James said payment of flat hourly rates, resulting in non-payment of penalty rates, and employers failing to issue sufficiently detailed pay slips, were common non-compliance issues.
The retail sector was selected for attention because it employs a large number of workers and generates a significant number of requests for assistance to the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Ahead of the campaign, inspectors wrote to almost 3000 retailers throughout SA, WA and the NT to inform them of the campaign and the free tools and resources available at www.fairwork.gov.au to help them comply with workplace laws.