A fifth United Petroleum outlet is in the spotlight as the Fair Work Ombudsman takes to court the former operator and the former manager of a western Melbourne outlet, alleging underpayment of a migrant worker.
Facing court is Bharathi Karnati, a sole trader and the former commission agent of a United Petroleum outlet on Leakes Road in Truganina, and former manager of the outlet, Ravikanth Baddam.
The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges that Karnati knowingly provided a Fair Work Inspector with false or misleading pay slips which overstated the rates she had paid an Indian international student.
The casual console worker was due at least $28.38 an hour under the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020. However the FWO alleges the worker was paid a maximum hourly rate of $14, and was underpaid a total of $2,337 during his employment from December 2020 to January 2021.
The alleged underpayment has been rectified.
The FWO also alleges record-keeping breaches
It is alleged there were further pay slip and record-keeping breaches.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said “Allegedly knowingly providing falsified pay slips to Fair Work Inspectors is completely unacceptable and has the potential to undermine the integrity of the workplace relations system.
“Our experienced inspectors will detect any allegedly false pay slips and hold employers to account.
“Providing accurate pay slips is a crucial employer obligation that supports employees to understand if they are being paid correctly,” Booth said.
Karnati faces penalties of up to $13,320 for each contravention for multiple alleged breaches of workplace laws; Baddam also faces penalties of up to $13,320 per contravention for his alleged involvement in the relevant pay slip and record-keeping breaches.
