Penalties for former QLD labour hire provider and manager

If your business is investigated by the Fair Work Ombudsman for potential breaches, complying and cooperating is essential for avoiding further issues and resolving your case.

In certain cases, there have been instances where Fair Work inspectors have been provided fraudulent or misleading information, leading to further penalties like the example we’ve discussed below.

The Fair Work audit

The example from this Fair Work media release involves Korserv Pty Ltd, a Queensland labour hire provider specialising in providing services to farm operators. As the Fair Work Ombudsman wished to audit pay rates for workers on a farm that worked with Korserv, the labour hire company was ordered to provide employment records covering wages and time.

The falsified documents and penalties

Korserv provided falsified pay slips, payment records, and other documentation with forged signatures, falsely showing that the appropriate payments had been made. Upon discovering the misleading information, the company was fined a total of $180,288, with $150,240 against Korserv and $30,048 against its previous manager. The former manager also admitted that they’d subcontracted other companies who were to handle paying the workers and is no longer in operation.

Providing falsified documents to the Fair Work Ombudsman is considered a serious offence that can lead to severe penalties for your organisation. With any Fair Work audit or investigation, ensure you provide documentation that is true while cooperating with the Ombudsman. For more information on how we can help with Fair Work compliance, book a free demo with our team today!