The Economy, Stupid

The Cost of Wage Theft

Mar 7, 2024

Exploring the billion-dollar wage theft in Australia, the podcast delves into cases involving major companies like Coles and Commonwealth Bank. Guests discuss protecting vulnerable workers, criminalizing wage theft, and improving rights for temporary migrant workers.

29:07

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Quick takeaways

Wage theft in Australia exceeds $1 billion annually, impacting workers' financial security.

Vulnerable groups like temporary migrants and young workers are most affected by wage theft.

Deep dives

Forms of wage theft in Australia

Wage theft in Australia takes various forms, including not paying workers for the time spent on tasks before or after their shifts, such as setting up workstations and closing duties in retail. Moreover, issues like not receiving penalty rates on holidays, unpaid superannuation, or underpaid superannuation are prevalent. The estimated cost of wage theft in Australia was found to exceed $1 billion a year, with significant impacts on workers' financial security and overall economic wellbeing.

Introduction

3min

Australia's Wage Theft Crisis

9min

Child Labor and Wage Theft Vulnerability

6min

Addressing Wage Theft Through Criminalization and Enforcement

6min

Improving Rights and Mobility of Temporary Migrant Workers

2min

Addressing Youth Wage System and Improving State Child Employment Laws

3min

Wage theft costs Australia’s workforce at least a billion dollars a year.

Some industries, like retail, hospitality and horticulture are renowned for it. But the practice is widespread across many sectors. There’s been wage theft cases against franchises like 7 Eleven and Bakers Delight, institutions like universities and the ABC, and corporate giants like Coles and the Commonwealth Bank.

So which workers are most vulnerable and what can be done to protect them?

Guests:

Giuseppe Carabetta, Associate Professor of Workplace and Business Law at the University of Technology, Sydney Business School.

Rebecca Thistleton, Executive Director, McKell Institute Victoria.

Stephen Clibborn, Associate Professor in the Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies, University of Sydney Business School.

Paula McDonald, Professor of Work and Organisation, Queensland University of Technology

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The Economy, Stupid

The Cost of Wage Theft

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Forms of wage theft in Australia

Vulnerability and sectors affected by wage theft

Challenges and solutions for addressing wage theft

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts