From 1 July 2021, Premier Dan Andrews and the Victorian State Government legislated that “wage theft” is a criminal offence and introduced the “Wage Inspectorate” department with powers to investigate employers. R&CA strongly opposed these changes and made multiple submissions to the Victorian Government & Parliament opposing these changes.
Therefore, for an employer in Victoria, it is a criminal offence to:
- deliberately underpay employees;
- dishonestly withhold wages, superannuation or other employee entitlements such as allowances;
- falsify employee entitlement records to gain a financial advantage; or
- avoid keeping employee entitlement records to gain a financial advantage.
R&CA have provided the below resources to help navigate the new Wage Inspectorate department.
FACT SHEET
SUBMISSIONS
Submission to Senate Inquiry into Unlawful underpayment of employees' remuneration
Wage theft amendment bill 2020
ARTICLES
Victorian wage theft laws raise double jeopardy risk for businesses
Sydney hospitality industry under spotlight after Victoria criminalises wage theft
‘Like torture’: Australia’s wage theft epidemic runs deeper than recent headlines
