The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) and the Department of Home Affairs’ Australian Border Force (ABF) have conducted snap inspections of about 40 businesses recently across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay.
Most businesses inspected were in the fast food, restaurants and cafés sector, though some are in the general retail, hair and beauty, and health care sectors, among others. All businesses inspected employ migrant workers, who can be vulnerable to exploitation.
Fair Work Inspectors have been checking time and wage records, including pay slips, to ensure the migrant workers are being paid correctly.
The FWO’s Inspectors also educated employees on recent changes to workplace laws, such as the right to disconnect, which took effect for small business employees in August 2025.
The inspections, which began on 2 June and mostly focused on Sunnybank Hills, Sunnybank and Fortitude Valley, have targeted employers of workers with subclass 482 visas, a temporary visa for workers with skills in demand.
In Australia, ‘chef’ is one of the top occupations for visa holder employees.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the inspections were part of a continuing national program of visits by the FWO and the Department of Home Affairs to check that employers of migrant workers are complying with the law.
“Workplace breaches that involve migrant workers can be particularly serious,” Ms Booth said. “We find they can be unaware of their workplace rights or unwilling to speak up if something seems wrong.”
Ms Booth reminded visa holder workers that they have nothing to fear when coming forward for help.
“It is crucial visa holders know that they have the same workplace rights as all other workers, and protections for their visas exist if they call out workplace exploitation. We urge workers with concerns about wages and entitlements to contact us.
“Employers should access the free tools and resources on our website to ensure they’re meeting their obligations, or contact the FWO directly for free advice.”
Improving compliance in the fast food, restaurants and cafes sector is also a FWO priority.
Australian Border Force (ABF) Field Operations and Sponsor Monitoring Unit officers visited a number of businesses, providing employers with information on migrant worker protections under the Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance) Act, which came into effect in July 2024 to combat the exploitation of temporary migrant workers.
ABF Commander Field Operations and Sponsor Monitoring, John Taylor, said the joint activity reinforces that Australia will not tolerate the exploitation of migrant workers or abuse of its visa programs.
“Migrant workers play a vital role in the Queensland economy, and it’s never acceptable to exploit them,” Commander Taylor said.
“Our message to employers is clear: do the right thing and meet your obligations. Do not exploit vulnerable workers or misuse the visa system – there is no excuse, and the consequences can be severe.
“It has never been easier for employers to do the right thing. You can quickly check the work rights of prospective employees using Home Affairs’ Visa Entitlement Verification Online system.
“Using a person’s immigration status to exploit them is a criminal offence. Penalties include up to two years’ imprisonment and/or substantial fines.”
The FWO’s investigations continue after the site visits.
The Strengthening Reporting Protections Pilot and Workplace Justice Visa Pilot address migration-related barriers that can deter temporary migrants from reporting exploitation or seeking workplace justice. The Department of Home Affairs is administering both pilot programs.
The inspections follow similar joint audits of food and other businesses by the FWO and the ABF around Australia recently.
