Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth has announced an investigation of aged care providers to gauge if staff in the industry are being paid correctly.
Mr Booth said in a statement released today that improving compliance in the aged care sector was one of her top priorities.
“The aged care sector employs a high number of vulnerable workers, particularly migrant workers, who are at risk of exploitation, and these inspections are making sure their workplace rights are being met,” she said.
“If we find breaches, our first aim is to ensure that workers are fully and promptly backpaid. If we find employers with significant compliance issues, we’ll consider our enforcement tools as appropriate.”
The FWO has already engaged with 20 aged care organisations in Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia as part of the investigation.
Organisations were selected for inspection based on issues such as any history of non-compliance with the Fair Work Act, anonymous reports from staff members received by the FWO, and their employment of visa holders.
“The investigations focus on pay and entitlements for personal care workers, nurses, and nursing assistants, being staff providing direct care to older people in their homes and at residential aged care facilities,” Ms Booth said.
“Record-keeping is also being assessed.”
In 2023-24, the FWO recovered more than $40.5 million for more than 22,000 underpaid aged care workers in residential aged care.
In that financial year, 12 percent of all the anonymous reports to the federal regulator were from workers providing health care and social assistance.
The FWO has established an Aged Care Services Reference Group to support a collective approach to enhanced compliance with workplace laws.
Employers and employees can visit www.fairwork.gov.au or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 for free advice and assistance about their rights and obligations in the workplace. A free interpreter service is available on 13 14 50.
Issues can be reported online anonymously, including in languages other than English.
The FWO also has resources for migrant and visa holder workers – who have the same workplace rights as any other workers.
