Fair Work Ombudsman
Citation: FWO-2022-12-07-bhangu-penalty-media-release
At a glance
- Respondent
- Bhangu Pty Ltd
- Penalty
- $30,000
- Employees affected
- 1
- Awards cited
- MA000113
What happened
Bhangu Pty Ltd, trading as Rehaan Automotive Care in Archerfield, Brisbane, failed to comply with a Compliance Notice. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated after a visa-holder worker from India, employed as a motor mechanic from February 2017 to February 2018, requested assistance. The company was found to have underpaid minimum wages and annual leave entitlements under the Vehicle Manufacturing, Repair, Services and Retail Award and the Fair Work Act’s National Employment Standards.
What was decided
The Federal Circuit and Family Court imposed a $30,000 penalty against Bhangu Pty Ltd. The company must now back-pay the worker all entitlements, including superannuation and interest, as outlined in the Compliance Notice. The Fair Work Ombudsman emphasised the consequences of failing to act on Compliance Notices and prioritising the protection of vulnerable employees.
What it means for employers
Employers must comply with Compliance Notices issued by the Fair Work Ombudsman. Failure to do so can result in significant penalties. Employers should be particularly aware of their obligations to vulnerable employees, such as visa holders.
What it means for employees
Employees, especially visa holders, can seek assistance from the Fair Work Ombudsman without fear of visa repercussions. The Assurance Protocol provides protection for visa holders seeking help with pay or entitlements.
Every statement above is drawn from the published decision. Read the original here:
https://www.fairwork.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/2022-media-releases/december-2022/20221207-bhangu-penalty-media-releaseWant more cases like this?
FairWork Mate tracks Fair Work Ombudsman, Fair Work Commission and Federal Court decisions across Australia. The full dataset, with structured fields for awards cited, industry, penalty amounts and affected employee counts, is available through the Business API. FairWork Mate AI answers plain-English questions grounded on the full corpus.
Individual case summaries on this site are free. API + AI access is a paid product. Contact us for pricing or a 50% off first month.
Get notified on new Fair Work cases
Free email alerts when we publish new underpayment decisions, penalty orders, and workplace law updates.
Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
This summary was drafted by AI from the published decision and reviewed before publishing. It is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, speak to the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified lawyer. About these summaries & corrections →