Home featured Economy Employment Legislation Featured Economy FWO targeting underpayments by supermarkets Joe Kelly August 29, 2014 The Fair Work Ombudsman will target supermarkets that underpay trolley workers who are already among the nation’s most vulnerable and exploited groups of workers. The FWO says it has discovered some trolley collectors working for as little as $5 an hour for what can be a physically taxing occupation. Over the last six years, more than $433,000 has been recouped for 528 underpaid trolley collectors at supermarkets across the nation. According to the 2011 census, one third of the nation’s 1500 trolley collectors are aged under 20 and 40 per cent have no education beyond year 10. Nearly 30 per cent of trolley collectors are born outside of Australia and the anecdotal evidence suggests that many struggle with a disability. Since January, 11 matters have gone before the courts alleging underpayment of trolley collectors and, of litigations which have been finalized, the FWO has secured penalties of about $288,000 relating to underpayments of more than $426,000. “All Australian workplaces – big and small – need to understand and apply Australia’s workplace laws to their business practices,” said Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James. “Big companies sub-contracting out services on their sites have a responsibility to ensure those contracts do not undercut minimum employee entitlements. “This responsibility extends to supply-chain contractors. Just because a company doesn’t “own” the contract doesn’t mean it can wash its hands of it.” The FWO has four separate matters currently