An appeal by the Workforce Inspectorate Victoria against a $1,000 fine and an adjourned two-year good behaviour bond has seen two businesses resentenced for offences under the Child Employment Act 2003 and fined an additional $9,650 and $2,850, respectively.
Victorian hospitality businesses Sidna (trading as Volpino) and Nasida (trading as South Beach Project) both pleaded guilty in the Magistrates Court of Victoria to multiple breaches of the Child Employment Act 2003.
Offences included employing a child under 15 without a licence, failing to ensure proper child supervision, allowing a child to work beyond permitted hours, and not providing adequate rest breaks.
The businesses were given an adjourned good behaviour bond and ordered to pay $1,000 to the court fund before Workforce Inspectorate Victoria requested the Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions appeal the decision.
Both appeals were upheld by the County Court of Victoria, and each corporate accused was resentenced, with Sidna fined $9,650 and Nasida fined $2,850.
The court found the original penalty lenient, noting that it did not provide a sufficient deterrence against breaches.
Further, the court reinforced that ignorance of obligations under the Child Employment Act does not change employer responsibilities or liabilities.
According to Workforce Inspectorate Victoria commissioner Robert Hortle, the decision reinforces the responsibility of businesses to understand and comply with their employment...
To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. 2 min Antoine, a 26-year-old who volunteers as a "street medic" to provide first aid to injur...