A major compliance campaign is urging tens of thousands of workers in the Hunter region to meticulously check their pay slips this festive season, amid heightened concerns that employers may short-change them on crucial penalty rates.
Statewide Push to Protect Worker Entitlements
Unions NSW is spearheading a statewide compliance operation throughout December and January. The initiative responds to what the union body describes as "growing concerns" that some businesses will test the limits of pay regulations during the Christmas trading rush.
Thomas Costa, Assistant Secretary of Unions NSW, emphasised the critical importance of workers not only knowing their rights but actively enforcing them, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. "Every year we see employers try to shave a little off public holiday pay or quietly count shutdown days as annual leave," Mr Costa stated.
He issued a stark warning against the normalisation of underpayment: "We've seen far too many examples of big businesses underpaying staff by the millions. Wage theft is not an accident and workers should not be footing the bill." His direct advice to employees was clear: "Don't accept it. Check everything."
High Stakes for Hunter's Workforce
The campaign directly impacts a significant portion of the local economy. According to the latest government data from February 2025, more than 37,000 people were employed in retail across the Hunter, with an additional 25,000 working in hospitality.
Mr Costa highlighted that on public holidays, some employees could be entitled to more than double their ordinary wage. He warned that employers, whether by mistake or design, might avoid paying these legally mandated rates.
To combat this, Unions NSW has mobilised a network of organisers, delegates, and union leaders to respond to suspected "rip-offs" in real time. "If a business thinks it can cut corners during the busiest trading period of the year, it should think again because we are organised, present, and will be checking," Mr Costa asserted.
Knowing Your Rights and Options
The union official also provided crucial guidance on work arrangements during the holiday shutdown period. He clarified that while employers can request staff to work on a public holiday, the request must be reasonable, and employees can refuse if they have reasonable grounds.
For newer workers facing forced shutdowns without sufficient accrued annual leave, Mr Costa pointed out alternative options. "You may have options like leave in advance, time in lieu or RDOs," he explained.
He concluded by reinforcing the core message of the campaign: "Enforcing your rights means knowing those options and not being pressured into arrangements that don't stack up under your award." The push serves as a timely reminder for workers to be vigilant and for employers to ensure full compliance with industrial laws during the festive season.
