Public Holidays
Cases on the right to refuse work on public holidays and the calculation of public holiday pay.
31 public holidays decisions on file. Plain-English summaries with links to the original judgment. Ask the AI advisor about your situation — Plus members get full case-law citations in answers.
Western Chinese Language School Incorporated v Fair Work Ombudsman
[2026] FCAFC 58 · Federal Court
Western Chinese Language School Incorporated (WCLS), a community language school, received a compliance notice in September 2022 from a Fair Work Inspector. The notice alleged WCLS had breached the Social, Community, Hom…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2026-03-06-shinya-torquay-hr-pty-ltd-and-shinya-geelong-hr-pty-ltd-compliance-notice-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Shinya Geelong HR Pty Ltd and Shinya Torquay HR Pty Ltd, former operators of ramen restaurants in Geelong and Torquay, Victoria, have been penalized for failing to comply with Compliance Notices. The Fair Work Ombudsman …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2026-01-27-korserv-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Korserv Pty Ltd, a Queensland-based labour hire provider, and its manager, Janghwan Choi. This action follows an audit of pay rates at a strawberry farm in the G…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-12-17-bulmer-farms-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Bulmer Farms Pty Ltd, a vegetable farm in Lindenow, Victoria. The farm allegedly underpaid 28 migrant workers from Kiribati, Timor Leste, and the Solomon Islands…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-06-25-horticulture-strategy-report-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) conducted a three-year Horticulture Strategy (2021-2024) inspecting over 500 employers across 15 regional hotspots. Inspections targeted farms, orchards, and labour hire providers. The Morni…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-02-17-klm-gupta-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
KLM Foods Pty Ltd and Loveleen Gupta were penalized for underpaying four migrant workers at two United Petroleum-branded outlets in Sandy Bay and Kingston, Tasmania, between December 2020 and February 2021. The workers, …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-01-30-hamilton-island-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Hamilton Island Enterprises Limited and its subsidiary Hamilton Island Shared Services signed an Enforceable Undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman after back-paying staff more than $28.1 million. The FWO began investi…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-01-16-navasardyan-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Sergey Stanislavovich Navasardyan, the former operator of Griffon Alpha Group Pty Ltd, a now deregistered security company in Perth. It is alleged that Mr. Navas…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-11-25-p49-collingwood-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
P49 Collingwood Pty Ltd, which operated 'Project 49' in Collingwood, and its sole director, Rocco Esposito, have been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated after a worker…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-09-18-om-shiva-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Om Shiva Foods Pty Ltd, trading as Wulagi Supermarket in Darwin, and its sole director Vinay Madasu, have been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. This followed a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation into und…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-09-17-lamattina-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
A & G Lamattina & Sons Pty Ltd, a celery producer based in Boneo, Victoria, has been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court for underpaying three migrant employees. The employees, who held bridging visas and s…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-08-08-cairns-food-outlets-wage-recoveries-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 35 food outlets in Cairns, including fast food restaurants, cafes, and cheap eats venues. The investigations, prompted by anonymous reports, found 23 businesses, or 74%, breached work…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-06-05-85-degrees-franchisor-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman took legal action against 85 Degrees Coffee Australia Pty Ltd, the franchisor of the '85 Degrees' brand in Australia. The case involved nine workers employed at eight franchisee-operated outlets i…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-04-10-dtf-world-square-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
DTF World Square Pty Ltd and Selden Farlane Lachlan Investments Pty Ltd, former operators of Din Tai Fung restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne, have been penalized for underpaying vulnerable migrant workers. The Fair Work…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-02-13-la-la-bar-group-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman secured penalties against Keri Taiaroa, a former director and shareholder of six La La Bar Group companies, Matthew Sanger, former general manager of those companies, Nicholas Accounting Managemen…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-02-06-migrant-workers-case-study-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Shi Yuen Wong, a Hong Kong national on a working holiday visa, worked at Winit (AU) Trade Pty Ltd, a Sydney warehouse and distribution company. He realised he wasn't being paid correctly, particularly overtime rates. Aft…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-12-15-more-than-skin-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman took legal action against More Than Skin Pty Ltd, which operated The Noshery café in Glebe, Sydney, and its co-directors, Lila and Lupo Stojcevski. The company and individuals failed to comply wit…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-11-21-tran-and-dong-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Xuan A Tran and Quang Manh Dong, a husband-and-wife partnership operating 'Vina Yummy Kitchen' in Hobart, have been penalised by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. They admitted to underpaying two employees—Ms Tran’s …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-10-18-ag-omnibus-october-2023-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has conducted inspections of 447 agriculture businesses across 15 regional areas of Australia since December 2021. These inspections targeted areas with a high risk of non-compliance. The FW…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-09-28-brownport-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Brownport Almonds Pty Ltd, trading as Bright Light, a large almond grower and processor in Hattah, Victoria, has back-paid over $500,000 to 197 current and former employees. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated after rec…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-09-26-unsw-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has commenced legal action against the University of New South Wales (UNSW). The FWO alleges UNSW breached workplace laws between 2017 and 2022. These breaches include failing to keep proper…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-08-30-lamattina-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against A & G Lamattina & Sons Pty Ltd, a celery producer based in Boneo, Victoria. Three farmhands who held bridging visas and spoke Indonesian and Malay, alleged they …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-07-05-nq-powertrain-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
NQ Powertrain Pty Ltd, a labour-hire company based in Far North Queensland, has been penalised by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. The company admitted to breaching workplace laws by underpaying 87 visa holders a to…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-06-05-carnarvon-cleaners-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Carnarvon Cleaners Pty Ltd, a contract cleaning company based in Carnarvon, Western Australia, and its sole director and shareholder, Margaret Herlysha Seaton, have been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court.…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-05-05-ag-omnibus-may-2023-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman is focusing on compliance within the agriculture sector. Since December 2021, inspectors have investigated 330 businesses in regional areas, including the Whitsunday Coast, Adelaide and Adelaide H…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-09-21-adept-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Adept Trolly Collection Services Pty Ltd, operating at Kmart sites in Launceston, Burnie, and Devonport in Tasmania, and its sole director, Ahlam Osman, have been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. The co…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-09-15-inner-west-melbourne-food-precincts-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman is conducting surprise inspections of approximately 30 restaurants, cafes, and fast food outlets in Melbourne's inner west, including Footscray, West Footscray, Seddon, Yarraville, Newport, and Wi…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-06-24-jenny-global-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Jenny Global Pty Ltd, formerly operating the Dae Bark Mart grocery store in Melbourne, has been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. A South Korean worker on a working holiday visa was employed as a retail …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-06-03-sydney-food-precincts-investigations-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman is conducting surprise inspections of approximately 50 restaurants, cafés, and fast food outlets in inner Sydney food precincts, including Haymarket, Chinatown, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, Surry …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-05-11-corinthian-capital-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Corinthian Capital Pty Ltd, formerly operating 'Galangal Award Winning Thai Cuisine' in Mount Hawthorn, Perth, and its sole director, Richard James Trainer, have been penalised by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. Th…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-02-22-dingwall-hilder-nominees-penalties-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated Dingwall Hilder Nominees Pty Ltd, which operated a restaurant called Quarterdeck Dining in Mandurah, Western Australia. Six former employees raised concerns about underpayment. A Fair…