Holiday wages should be checked: Unions NSW

4 January 2010

Australian workers are being encouraged to check over their wages from the holiday period to ensure that they have received adequate payment for their services and any holiday rates.

Unions NSW have urged workers to look over their wages and any payment records for their penalty rates and overall wages earned throughout the festive season to ensure that all appropriate payments have been made.

Unions NSW Secretary Mark Lennon stated that there can often be confusion between employers and employees when it comes to holiday rates and what wages are due for certain jobs.

"Often employers aren't fully aware of their obligations, especially with the recent changes in legislation, so employees should call their union or doublecheck their award or agreement to check their entitlements," Mark Lennon said.

"Some workers may be entitled to double or even triple time, but due to an oversight from their employer, might miss out on money they've rightfully earned."

Of particular importance is the date of December 28 2009 after it was gazetted as the public holiday for Boxing Day, which was a Saturday in 2009.

This issue has taken on even more importance as 2009 saw employees short-changed over $4 million in holiday wages according to NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, John Hatzistergos, who released a statement in October 2009 urging employers to protect themselves from official enquiries and paying their employees their proper wages.

"Employers must ensure that the correct award rates of pay are paid and the appropriate meal and rest breaks are given to staff working on a public holiday," he said.

"NSW inspectors visit workplaces across the State to ensure that businesses are competing fairly and complying with their obligations as an employer," he said. "As part of these visits, inspectors specifically check that public holiday rates have been applied."

"If an employer fails to meet basic legal requirements they will be required to make back payments and in some cases may be prosecuted," the Minister said.

"Promoting a positive work-life balance across the NSW working community is an important issue for the NSW Government. "It is important that retailers pay correct wages in exchange for the hard work of their staff who give up their holiday to work."

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