The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against a Melbourne construction company and two individuals for alleged breaches affecting a young worker.
Facing court are Hexacon Construction Pty Ltd, the company's sole director Chor Huat Loh, and the company's former accountant Fang Li, also known as Andy Li.
The regulator investigated after receiving a request for assistance from a casual construction worker Hexacon Construction employed between January 2022 and August 2023. The worker was aged 23 to 25 at the time.
A Fair Work Inspector issued a Compliance Notice to Hexacon Construction, which is based in Huntingdale, in October 2025 after forming a belief the company had underpaid the worker's minimum wages and an industry allowance.
The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges the company, without a reasonable excuse, failed to comply with the Compliance Notice, which required it to calculate and back-pay the worker's entitlements.
It is alleged the amount the company was required to pay the worker to comply with the Compliance Notice was at least $11,691.
The entitlements were allegedly owed under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020.
It is also alleged that the company breached laws relating to frequency-of-pay by paying the worker between three and ten months late for work he performed. The worker was required to be paid at least weekly.
The company allegedly also breached record-keeping and pay slip laws, including knowingly providing the worker with false pay slips and providing those pay slips to the Fair Work Ombudsman during its investigation.
It is alleged Mr Loh was involved in the failure to comply with the Compliance Notice.
It is alleged Mr Li was involved in providing the false pay slips to the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the seriousness of the alleged contraventions meant that legal action was the only appropriate response.
"We will not hesitate to take legal action in response to the alleged use of false pay slips and failure to comply with Compliance Notices," Ms Booth said.
"Individuals involved in operating companies, be that directors, accountants or others, need to be aware that we are prepared to hold them to account in court if they are allegedly involved in this sort of conduct.
"Employers should also be aware that taking action to improve compliance in the building and construction sector and protect young workers are priorities for the Fair Work Ombudsman.
"Any employees with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for free assistance. Employees can also seek information their union, if they are a member."
The Fair Work Ombudsman is seeking penalties in court for multiple alleged contraventions.
Hexacon Construction Pty Ltd faces penalties of up to $99,000 per contravention.
Mr Loh faces penalties of up to $19,800 for his alleged involvement in the Compliance Notice contravention. Mr Li faces penalties of up to $18,780 for his alleged involvement in the contraventions for providing the false pay slips to the Fair Work Ombudsman.
The regulator is also seeking a court order requiring the company to comply with the Compliance Notice including calculating and rectifying any outstanding entitlements, plus paying superannuation and interest.
The matter is listed for a hearing in the Federal Circuit and Family Court in Melbourne on 3 August 2026.
