Private Sector Labour Relations (PSLR) industrial inspector’s new tools have resulted in four businesses receiving civil infringement notices during 2023. 

In June 2022, industrial inspectors received enhanced powers and new compliance tools including the introduction of a power to issue civil infringement notices.

An industrial inspector may issue a civil infringement notice to a person whom they believe has breached a record-related provision under the Industrial Relations Act 1979. Similar to an 'on-the-spot' fine, an infringement notice contains details of the alleged breach and specifies a penalty to be paid. 

As a result of PSLR’s proactive compliance activities and investigations of underpayment complaints in 2023, four businesses were issued infringement notices for not issuing payslips to employees and/or not keeping timesheets recording start and finish times and hours worked for each employee. This resulted in the recovery of $33,031 in unpaid wages and entitlements for employees and a total of $3,900 fines paid by the businesses.  

Infringement notices can specify a maximum penalty of $6,500 for a body corporate and $1,300 for an individual. Failure to pay an infringement notice can lead to proceedings taken in the Industrial Magistrates Court.

Employers can visit the Employment records- employer obligations page to find information about the legal requirements on record keeping to ensure compliance.