Former operator of Ozone Manufacturing Pty Ltd, Sydney man Simon Forbes Oke is facing court after the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) launched legal action, elleging eight employees were underpaid a total of $49,000.
Ozone Manufacturing was involved in designing, manufacturing and distributing environmental control products for dust and fume control, and air and water purification before the company was placed into liquidation earlier this year.
‘It is alleged Oke was involved in underpaying five manufacturing employees in Adelaide a total of $17,018 and three sales employees in Sydney a total of $31,984 in wages, annual leave and personal leave entitlements between January and October, 2012.’
‘The FWO will allege in court that the employees had also been underpaid further annual leave entitlements and superannuation which have not yet been quantified due to the company’s failure to comply with Notices to Produce employment records issued by the Fair Work Ombudsman. Breaches of pay slip and frequency-of-pay laws are also alleged.’
‘Acting Fair Work Ombudsman, Michael Campbell, said the significant amount involved and the failure to rectify the alleged underpayments were significant factors in the decision to commence legal action.’
Oke was allegedly involved in multiple breaches of workplace laws and faces penalties of up to $6,600 per breach.