Wageline News March 2020

Wageline News March 2020

In this edition:

  • Café owner ordered to serve up more than $33,000 in backpay and penalties
  • Employment impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Easter 2020 public holiday employment entitlements

Café owner ordered to serve up more than $33,000 in backpay and penalties

The owner of a now-closed North Perth café has been ordered by the Industrial Magistrates Court to back pay $24,337 in unpaid award wages and interest to five former employees.

Ms Jodie Cooper, who operated the Cloud Nine Vegan café, was also penalised $9,000 for the 24 contraventions of the Restaurant, Tearoom and Catering Workers’ Award 1979.

When setting the penalties, Industrial Magistrate Flynn stated that he took into consideration that the workers were young, many of them were on a visa and that the underpayments were large amounts of money for these employees, causing them to struggle financially.

The Industrial Magistrate also stated that the penalty should send a message to other employers that awards served an important function and that it is not worth underpaying employees.

Read the full media release

Employment impacted by the novel coronavirus
(COVID-19)

The Employment impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) page has information for state system employers and employees on employment obligations and entitlements in a situation where:

  • employees are unable to work due to self isolation or quarantine requirements for themselves or family members due to COVID-19; or
  • the business has been impacted by travel or import/export restrictions associated with COVID-19.

This information is relevant to employers and employees in the WA state industrial relations system – sole traders, unincorporated partnerships, unincorporated trusts and some incorporated or not for profit organisations.

Employers and employees under the national industrial relations system should refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman for information on this issue.

Easter public holidays 2020

The Western Australian public holidays for the 2020 Easter period are:

  • Good Friday – Friday 10 April 2020
  • Easter Monday – Monday 13 April 2020

If you are covered by the state industrial relations system, the Easter 2020 public holiday page contains information on employment entitlements for:

  • award free employers and employees
  • Shop and Warehouse (Wholesale and Retail Establishments) Award
  • Restaurant, Tearoom and Catering Workers Award
  • Hairdressers Award

For information on other WA awards, please view the WA award summaries.

While Easter Saturday is not a public holiday in Western Australia, some WA awards require employees to be paid additional rates on this day. To check if this applies to your situation visit the WA award summaries page or alternatively contact Wageline on 1300 655 266.

Employers and employees in the national industrial relations system should visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website for information on public holiday employment entitlements.

Wageline’s opening hours over the Easter period

The opening hours over the Easter period are:

Friday 10 April (Good Friday) – Closed
Monday 13 April (Easter Monday) – Closed
Tuesday 14 April – 8.30am – 4.30pm

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All rights reserved.

Telephone: 1300 655 266
National Relay Service: 13 36 77
www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/wageline