A Macedon restaurant has had a total of 94 criminal charges filed against it in the Magistrates Court of Victoria.
The charges are an Australian first under Victorian wage theft laws.
Wage Inspectorate Victoria filed the charges against Rehmat & Mehar Pty Ltd – trading as The Macedon Lounge – and its officer.
It is alleged that between July and November 2021, the company and its officer breached wage theft laws by dishonestly withholding more than $7000 in employee entitlements, including wages, penalty rates and superannuation, in relation to four young former staff members.
Rehmat & Mehar Pty Ltd and its officer each face 47 charges.
The matter has been listed for mention in the Broadmeadows Magistrates Court on February 21, 2023.
On July 1 last year, it became a crime for an employer in Victoria to dishonestly underpay employees or withhold their entitlements.
These crimes are punishable by up to 10 years’ jail for an individual or a fine of more than $1.1 million for companies.
Wage theft offences involve deliberate and dishonest conduct. Honest mistakes made by employers who exercise due diligence in paying wages and entitlements are not considered wage theft.
