Fair Work Ombudsman
Citation: FWO-2025-12-11-gami-chicken-cn-penalty-media-release
At a glance
- Penalty
- $76,387
- Employees affected
- 16
- Awards cited
- MA000173
What happened
The Fair Work Ombudsman secured penalties and back-pay orders against Vanna Taing, Brandon Bui, and Gary Lai, former operators and a human resources employee of a Gami Chicken & Beer franchise outlet ('Gami-Southland') in Cheltenham, Melbourne. The case involved breaches affecting 16 kitchen and wait staff, including two young workers (aged 17) and visa holders from Vietnam and Korea. The operators provided false pay slips to a Fair Work Inspector and failed to comply with a Compliance Notice requiring back-payment of wages. The Fair Work Ombudsman began investigating in 2019 and again in 2021 after receiving worker requests for assistance.
What was decided
The Federal Circuit and Family Court imposed penalties of $15,000 on Vanna Taing, $12,500 on Brandon Bui, and $4,000 on Gary Lai. The court also ordered Taing and Bui to jointly pay $44,887 in outstanding entitlements to the underpaid workers. The court found the false records breach was a deliberate attempt to prevent discovery of non-compliance. Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth stated that employers using false records and failing to act on Compliance Notices face legal action. The case concluded with an appeal.
What it means for employers
Employers must maintain accurate payroll records and comply with Compliance Notices. Providing false information to the Fair Work Ombudsman is a serious offense with significant penalties. Employers should prioritise protecting young and migrant workers and ensuring compliance with workplace laws and minimum conditions of employment, particularly in the fast food, restaurants, and cafés sector.
What it means for employees
Employees with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for free assistance. Free interpreter services are available. Employees can also seek information from their employer or union.
Every statement above is drawn from the published decision. Read the original here:
https://www.fairwork.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/2025-media-releases/december-2025/20251211-gami-chicken-cn-penalty-media-releaseWant more cases like this?
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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 →