NSW: Hotelier fined $22,000 for underpaying staff

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2008
NSW: Hotelier fined $22,000 for underpaying staff

SYDNEY, Aug 1 AAP - A NSW hotel owner has been fined $22,000 for underpaying 14 staff
over two years.

The Federal Magistrates Court heard the owner of the Bucketts Way Hotel in Gloucester,
in NSW's Hunter region, not only underpaid workers but also paid little heed to an earlier
warning.

Owner and sole director Murray Clarke shortchanged the 14 workers a total of $12,000
from mid-2004 until mid-2006, the court heard.

In a judgment handed down yesterday, Federal Magistrate Shenagh Barnes described the
underpayments as "a product of negligent disregard" by Mr Clarke.

The problem also "took some time to correct", she said.

The court heard the underpayments continued even after Mr Clarke was informed of the
correct rates of pay, outlined in the Motels Accommodation and Resorts Award.

The outstanding money was eventually paid to the workers, but the magistrate said a
fine was still warranted.

"This is not a case in which it can be said that no harm has been done, as the employees
were without the benefit of the correct wages for a significant period of time," she said.

"The need for such general deterrence is especially high in industries that employ
low-paid labour."

Mr Clarke has six months to pay the fine.

AAP dr/evt/it/de

KEYWORD: BUCKETTS

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