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Queensland Company In Court For Failing To Pay Teen For 150 Hours Work

Queensland company in court for failing to pay teen for 150 hours work

A telecommunications installation company is facing court for allegedly failing to pay an 18 year-old labourer for 150 hours of work.

Facing the Federal Circuit Court is Bradley Wells, who ran Attain Solutions Pty Ltd before he put the company into liquidation last year.

Queensland company in court for failing to pay teen

Attain Solutions, based on the Sunshine Coast, installed underground telecommunications infrastructure for companies involved with the NBN.

The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges Wells failed to pay the teenager any wages for 150 hours of work.

He dug trenches and laid pipes at various locations in South-East Queensland in June 2017.

Under the relevant award, the worker should have received $3,945 in minimum wages, casual loadings, overtime and an industry allowance.

Attain Solutions also allegedly failed to comply with a Notice to Produce Records during the investigation.

Young workers vulnerable to exploitation

Industrial advocate Miles Heffernan from IR Claims says young workers are particularly vulnerable to wage theft and exploitation.

“Teenage workers in their first job can be afraid to speak up because they fear they’ll get the sack,” he said.

“Additionally, many young people are unsure of their workplace rights, and don’t know who to complain to if they get ripped off.”

Calls for more workplace rights training

Last year, IR Claims made a number of recommendations to the Queensland Wage Theft Inquiry.

They included the establishment of training courses in high schools, TAFE colleges and universities to teach young people about their workplace rights.

“Just a few weeks ago, a team from our firm spoke to school leavers to teach them about their rights are when it comes to wages, discrimination and sexual harassment,” Mr Heffernan said.

“The more information young workers have, the less likely they will be ripped off.”

The team from IR Claims speaking to students at Bray Park High School about their workplace rights.

Employer facing hefty penalties

The Federal Circuit Court in Brisbane has a directions hearing listed for the Attain Solutions case.

Bradley Wells faces penalties of up to $10,800 per contravention.

Fair Work is also seeking a court order requiring Wells to back-pay the young worker in full.


Call our team at Industrial Relations Claims today on

1300 045 466

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