The Fair Work Ombudsman has taken legal action against the former operator of a United Petroleum station in Brisbane, accusing him of providing fake records to a Fair Work Inspector.
Navaneeth Gogikar, who previously ran a United Petroleum outlet in Sunnybank Hills as a sole trader, is now facing court over these allegations.
In 2020, the Fair Work Ombudsman asked Mr. Gogikar to submit time-and-wage records as part of an investigation. It is claimed that Mr. Gogikar knowingly gave the Inspector false or misleading records and pay slips, showing that he paid an Indian international student he employed a different wage than what was actually paid.
Additionally, it is alleged that Mr. Gogikar failed to maintain accurate records for this worker and two other Indian international students, all of whom were console operators between the ages of 23 and 24. The workers were employed at the petrol station between 2019 and 2021. Furthermore, Mr. Gogikar allegedly did not provide any of the workers with proper pay slips, making it impossible for the Fair Work Ombudsman to conduct a complete audit of their time and wages.
Michael Campbell, Acting Fair Work Ombudsman, said that given the seriousness of these allegations, legal action was necessary.
“Knowingly falsifying employment records is completely unacceptable,” said Mr. Campbell. “Equally, poor record-keeping that prevents us from verifying the hours worked and the rightful entitlements of employees is unacceptable.”
Mr. Campbell stressed that protecting young and migrant workers is a top priority for the Fair Work Ombudsman. He also encouraged anyone with concerns about their entitlements to reach out for free assistance.
The Ombudsman is seeking penalties from the court. Mr. Gogikar could face fines of up to $12,600 or $13,320 for each breach of workplace laws.
A directions hearing is scheduled for January 20, 2025, at the Federal Circuit and Family Court in Brisbane.
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