The Fair Work Ombudsman has conducted a series of unannounced audits in Wollongong in response to concerns young workers in the town were being exploited.
Inspectors were primarily focussed on reports that related to the retail industry in Wollongong, which employs many young workers, primarily students studying in the area.
Over the course of three days, Fair Work inspectors visited approximately more than 80 businesses in the Wollongong CBD.
Interviews were conducted by inspectors with business operators and workers.
Records were also assessed to check that workers were receiving their lawful entitlements, including minimum hourly rates, penalty rates, overtime and allowances.
Acting Fair Work ombudsman Michael Campbell said auditing came as a result of intelligence and public concern that young indicated workers in Wollongong were being underpaid and treated unfairly.
"Wollongong is a tertiary education hub with a high a number of young students who work in casual jobs and the reports of underpayments have been concerning.
"Young workers can be vulnerable if they are not fully aware of their rights or reluctant to complain, so it's important we are proactive about checking they're being paid correctly."
The Fair Work Ombudsman contacted a number of young workers to obtain intelligence that assisted with selecting businesses for audit.
The campaign has also included audits of a number of businesses selected at random.
Campbell said some of the businesses audited could be subject to full investigations and businesses with serious non-compliance issues could face formal enforcement action.