The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against the former sole director of a cafe and kiosk company in South-East Queensland.
Facing court is Salem Hamze, who was the director and part-owner of Lortoc No. 60 Pty Ltd, which formerly operated a café called 'Hakuna Ma'Coffee' and a food and beverage kiosk called 'Ric & Co', both located at the Blue Water Square Shopping Centre in Redcliffe.
The regulator investigated Lortoc No. 60 Pty Ltd after receiving a request for assistance from three workers employed at the outlets between September 2022 and March 2023.
A Fair Work Inspector issued a Compliance Notice to Lortoc No. 60 Pty Ltd in December 2023 after forming a belief the company had underpaid the workers' entitlements, owed under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020, Restaurant Industry Award 2020 and the Fair Work Act's National Employment Standards.
The inspector formed a belief the workers were underpaid minimum wages, penalty rates and annual leave entitlements. Two of the workers were employed as part-time food and beverage attendants and one as a full-time fast-food employee.
The Fair Work Ombudsman is taking court action against Mr Hamze, alleging he was involved in the company's failure to comply with the Compliance Notice, which required the calculation and back-payment of the workers' entitlements.
It is alleged that the amount Lortoc No. 60 Pty Ltd was required to pay the workers to comply with the Compliance Notice was $19,019.
It is also alleged that Mr Hamze was involved in the company's breach of the Fair Work Act and Fair Work Regulations by sometimes failing to issue workers with pay slips and by failing to include all required information in pay slips when they were issued.
Hakuna Ma'Coffee and Ric & Co are now closed and Lortoc No. 60 Pty Ltd has been deregistered.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the regulator would continue to enforce workplace laws and take action in court where lawful requests and pay slip laws were not complied with.
"Where business operators do not comply, we will take appropriate action to protect employees," Ms Booth said.
"Employers need to be aware that taking action to improve compliance in the fast food, restaurants and cafés sector is among our top priorities.
"The law also demands that all employees be given accurate pay slips. Pay slips provide employees with the clarity they need about their pay, and we expect every employer to follow laws requiring them to provide pay slips to their employees within one business day of them being paid.
"Any employees with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for free assistance."
The FWO is seeking penalties against Mr Hamze for his alleged involvement in the failure to comply with the Compliance Notice. Mr Hamze faces a penalty of up to $9,390. For his alleged involvement in the pay slip contraventions Mr Hamze faces penalties of up to $13,320 and $16,500 respectively per contravention.
A directions hearing is listed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court in Brisbane on 8 December 2025.
