May 2009

Ombudsman orders $80,000 to be repaid

Worker underpayments trigger reminder to park bosses

CARAVAN parks in Victoria and South Australia are being reminded of their obligations to staff.

The move comes after some motels, caravan parks and clubs in country Victoria were found to have underpaid workers.

Workplace Ombudsman executive director Michael Campbell said inspectors discovered the underpayments at 10 separate premises in Echuca, Shepparton, Mildura and The Grampians.

A statement said the businesses had been asked to back-pay 13 staff more than $80,000 after investigations by the Federal Workplace Ombudsman.

Workplace Ombudsman media and stakeholder relations director Craig Bildstien told Caravanning News he was unable to name the errant caravan parks.

"I can, however, add that during Workplace Rights Week - a national effort to promote public awareness of employer obligations and worker rights - our South Australian office gave some focus to inspectors visiting caravan parks to talk to operators and employees about their respective responsibilities."

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