NEWS DESK
Staff recoup missing pay A FORMER Seaford automotive repair business manager has been reimbursed $102,990 following intervention by the Fair Work Ombudsman. The manager was found to have not received the correct annual leave and long service leave entitlements after he resigned from the company after 25 years. He contacted the Fair Work Ombudsman for help and to confirm that he was entitled to receive the payment. He was provided with advice to help him resolve the matter with his former employer. The entitlement was paid in two lump sum payments within a week. The Fair Work Ombudsman also helped a foreman in Carrum Downs to recover $5623 in entitlements. The woman sought help after not receiving her final pay and annual leave entitlements when she resigned from the business, despite having given the correct notice. Acting Fair Work Ombudsman Michael Campbell said the employers in the two instances avoided enforcement action “because they co-operated and voluntarily rectified the underpayments after being made aware of their obligations”. “The underpayments in these instances were inadvertent and were the result of employers failing to check their obligations under workplace laws,” Mr Campbell said. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s online tools and resources aim to assist employees and employers to determine their applicable award and classification and pay rates, allowances, overtime and penalty rates. The ‘My Account’ portal enables employers to view and save pay rates and receive alerts about minimum wage increases. See fairwork.gov.au or call 13 13 94 for assistance.
Surf’s up: Migrant lifesavers lap it up at Bonbeach at the weekend on their first official patrols. Picture: Gary Sissons
New arrivals out on patrol BATHERS at Bonbeach on the weekend were pleasantly surprised to see lifesavers from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Cambodia on their first official patrols. The 17 newcomers were part of Bonbeach Life Saving Club’s efforts to bridge the water safety “information and diversity gap” for migrants – especially those new to the Aussie beach culture. They followed in the footsteps of Imtiyaz “Minty” Saberi, who became Victoria’s first Afghani lifesaver at Edithvale Life Saving Club in 2009. With no experience in the surf, the recruits
had already completed a year of swimming training before joining the lifesaving club, and reports are that they have “improved remarkably” to gain their surf rescue certificates. This is a basic requirement for a lifesaver and allows them to patrol Bonbeach beach as volunteers. They will now build their skills through patrol experience and further training. “Programs like these not only benefit youth from other countries, but the community as a whole,” Life Saving Victoria multicultural projects manager David Holland said. “A genuine cross education of cultures takes place which educates everyone involved.
“It is a great story of young men and women volunteering their time to protect the wider community that they are proud to be part of, so soon after arriving.” Past president and 30-year club member Campbell Jordan said Aussie traditions of volunteering and helping others – embodied in surf lifesaving – should be passed onto migrant communities who have been welcomed to Australia. “Bonbeach LSC is proud to be part of this process in shaping our community and fostering our young members to carry on those traditions in the modern era,” Mr Jordan said.
Attention Schools, sporting clubs & community groups
Free advertising listings Each month the Chelsea-Mordialloc-Mentone News will run a Community Events page, where your school or organisation can promote upcoming events, fund raisers, social events, etc. at no charge. This page is sponsored by the Aspendale Gardens Community Bank and listings are completely free. Listing should include event name, date, time & address.
Send your listing to:
Community Events
PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or email your listing to
communityevents@baysidenews.com.au 12337001-LN03-17
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 25 January 2017