Fair Work warning to labour-hire firms after company allegedly underpays pickers


ABC News
21 Aug 2026
A tray of blueberries
Labour-hire firms often supply the workers who pick berries on Australian farms.   

In short:
The Fair Work Ombudsman is taking labour-hire company Four Seasons Workforce to court for allegedly underpaying Chinese and Japanese workers.

The company could be fined $99,000 for every offence if found guilty in the Federal Court.   :)

What's next?
The case will go before the court next in October.


Australia's Fair Work Ombudsman has issued a stark warning to labour-hire firms and farms that are underpaying workers in the Coffs Harbour region: "We are coming for you."   :)

The message came as Fair Work filed a case in the Federal Court against a labour-hire company accused of underpaying two workers about $14,000.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said court action had been taken against three labour-hire companies so far this year, two of which were operating on the Coffs Coast.

"If you are underpaying workers in the Coffs Harbour region … then you should be on notice and checking your own supply chain to make sure it is compliant with the Fair Work Act," she said.

"Because we are coming for you."
Fair Work has alleged Four Seasons Workforce Pty Ltd was paying workers on a piecework basis, according to how much they picked.

It has accused the company of not complying with the Pieceworker Guaranteed Minimum Rate, which guarantees workers are paid no less than the minimum hourly rate for casual fruit pickers under the Horticulture Industry Award 2020.

A woman with short blonde hair wearing a beige top and blazer sitting in an office.
Anna Booth says court action has been filed against three companies so far this year.

Earlier this month, a report into modern slavery raised serious concerns about labour-hire firms operating on the Coffs and Mid North coasts, with some workers reporting they were earning less than $7 an hour and were living in overcrowded, squalid accommodation.   :(

The ombudsman took action against Four Seasons Workforce, and the company's sole director, Pik Yok Chey, after Fair Work received complaints from two workers, a Chinese national and a Japanese national.

The pair were both in Australia on working holiday visas, and were both allegedly underpaid at different intervals between July 2023 and October 2024.

Four Seasons Workforce Pty Ltd could face penalties of up to $99,000 per offence and Ms Chey could face penalties of up to $19,800 per offence if the allegations are proven in the Federal Court.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has alleged the company also failed to act on compliance notices within the required time frame.

Ms Booth said Fair Work was seeing underpayments across the horticultural industry.

"We see them in the labour-hire industry predominantly," she said.

"Many growers engage labour-hire companies to supply labour and … this region [Coffs Harbour] is one of our top trouble spot regions that we have identified through our investigations."

Kun Du holds a smoothie while taking a selfie
Kun Du was working on a blueberry farm in the Coffs Harbour region from June and October 2024. ( Supplied: Fair Work Ombudsman)

'I had to borrow money'
When Chinese national Kun Du was working on a blueberry farm on the Coffs Coast, she was allegedly paid so little that she could not afford groceries.

"At times, I had to borrow money from the supervisor on site," Ms Du said in a statement provided by Fair Work.

When she took her case to Fair Work, Four Seasons Workforce allegedly paid her $5,000.

In a statement, Fair Work said the company also allegedly repaid a Japanese national after the ombudsman started legal action.

"When I saw the money, it felt like justice had been served," Ms Du said.

Aerial view of planted blueberries.
The Fair Work Ombudsman is taking a labour-hire company to court after it allegedly underpaid workers.  (ABC Landline)

Ms Booth said workers who were on temporary visas were "particularly vulnerable".

"They are often unaware of Australian terms and conditions, they're sometimes nervous about coming to the regulator," she said.

"We do want visa holders to know they have the same rights as any Australian worker, that they can obtain our support and their visa will be protected."

The ABC was unable to contact Four Seasons Workforce for a response.

The case is set to be mentioned in the Federal Court on October 20.

Thanks whiteknight.
The price of fruit and vegetables will have to go up as you point out to cover the wage rises.

This will raise inflation and rightly so.

This will raise interest rates and rightly so.

This will create mortgage stress and people defaulting on their house payments.

Some of these people will become homeless.

Some may then go on the road and pick fruit and vegetables.

We call this the circle of life.


Whiteknight believes nature has provided a money tree that grows only in Canberra and can fund everything .

He should get out in nature more and understand cause and effect

aquascoot, its not about wage rises.  This is about workers being underpaid.  I am sure you agree, workers should not be underpaid.   :(

aquascoot wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 6:58am:

Thanks whiteknight. The price of fruit and vegetables will have to go up as you point out to cover the wage rises.

Nobody is asking for a pay rise.

The labour-hire firms are just being asked to obey the law.

"All employees working in Australia are entitled to a minimum wage. This is the minimum amount an employee can be paid for the work that they're doing."

So you Lefties want Lefty American politics here in Australia via ALP & One Nation.
But you don't want the American worker system of low pay & tips, etc.

You are a Scammer.

whiteknight wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 7:24am:

aquascoot, its not about wage rises.  This is about workers being underpaid.  I am sure you agree, workers should not be underpaid.   :(

After reading his posts here for many years I can safely say that he probably doesn't.

I'm sure he'd be happy to see the average worker get paid half of the minimum wage and then go home to kneel in front of the fridge and weep tears of joy because they have something to eat and also have such wonderful, noble bosses who give them a job and keep them safe at work.  ::)

If you feel underplayed you can start your own business and pay yourself what you think is right.

 

If you feel you are underpaid, ask your union.  Or get in touch with the fair work ombudsman.   :(

Or get another job.

Then you could have the same problem in another job.   :(

whiteknight wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 12:35pm:

If you feel you are underpaid, ask your union.  Or get in touch with the fair work ombudsman.   :(

Indeed.

https://www.fairwork.gov.au/pay-and-wages

https://www.australianunions.org.au/factsheet/which-is-the-union-for-you/

It depends on the demand. I did an health assistance course with the university. Had it not been for some dyke, ex-junkie having her jealousy fit, I would probably be working in an aged care facility. The money is not all that good for what you do, working in aged care. So, I think the talk of demand for workers there is just all talk.

Carl D wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 10:27am:

whiteknight wrote on Sep 30th, 2026 at 7:24am: aquascoot, its not about wage rises.  This is about workers being underpaid.  I am sure you agree, workers should not be underpaid.   :( After reading his posts here for many years I can safely say that he probably doesn't. I'm sure he'd be happy to see the average worker get paid half of the minimum wage and then go home to kneel in front of the fridge and weep tears of joy because they have something to eat and also have such wonderful, noble bosses who give them a job and keep them safe at work.  ::)

I would think that the majority of small business people and farmers work for less then minimum wage

aquascoot wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 5:56pm:

Carl D wrote on Sep 30th, 2026 at 10:27am: whiteknight wrote on Sep 30th, 2026 at 7:24am: aquascoot, its not about wage rises.  This is about workers being underpaid.  I am sure you agree, workers should not be underpaid.   :( After reading his posts here for many years I can safely say that he probably doesn't. I'm sure he'd be happy to see the average worker get paid half of the minimum wage and then go home to kneel in front of the fridge and weep tears of joy because they have something to eat and also have such wonderful, noble bosses who give them a job and keep them safe at work.  ::) I would think that the majority of small business people and farmers work for less then minimum wage

And you would be wrong, of course.

greggerypeccary wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 5:58pm:

aquascoot wrote on Sep 30th, 2026 at 5:56pm: Carl D wrote on Sep 30th, 2026 at 10:27am: whiteknight wrote on Sep 30th, 2026 at 7:24am: aquascoot, its not about wage rises.  This is about workers being underpaid.  I am sure you agree, workers should not be underpaid.   :( After reading his posts here for many years I can safely say that he probably doesn't. I'm sure he'd be happy to see the average worker get paid half of the minimum wage and then go home to kneel in front of the fridge and weep tears of joy because they have something to eat and also have such wonderful, noble bosses who give them a job and keep them safe at work.  ::) I would think that the majority of small business people and farmers work for less then minimum wage And you would be wrong, of course.

The local norco rep told me a survey of 50 dairy farms near Brisbane revealed the average hourly rate was $5 an hour.
Plenty of coffee shop owners, small restaurants, bakery's , butchers will admit the principal is taking almost nothing out of ur business

Employees are generally entitled to at least the applicable minimum wage under Australian workplace law.
Business owners, sole traders, partners and many farmers are effectively remunerated through the business's profit rather than an hourly wage. If the business makes little or no profit, the owner's effective return for their labour can therefore be below the minimum wage — even zero or negative after accounting for the value of their work and capital.
Agriculture has a particularly large amount of owner-operator and unpaid family labour. ABARES notes that agriculture has a higher proportion of owner-operators and unpaid family workers than many other industries. �
Dept of Ag, Fisheries & Forestry +1
The government even has a Farm Household Allowance for commercial farmers experiencing financial hardship; as of August 2026, about 3,700 farmers and partners were still receiving assistance. �

tallowood wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 10:53am:

If you feel underplayed you can start your own business and pay yourself what you think is right.

Yeah nah - that's just bs.

UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 1:27pm:

Or get another job.

You've had plenty - of 5 minute appearances.

Don't want to affect the dole payments with too many hours.

UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 1:45pm:

It depends on the demand. I did an health assistance course with the university. Had it not been for some dyke, ex-junkie having her jealousy fit, I would probably be working in an aged care facility. The money is not all that good for what you do, working in aged care. So, I think the talk of demand for workers there is just all talk.

It all worked for the best ey?

I wouldn't want you looking after me or any other person in an aged care facility.

whiteknight wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 12:35pm:

If you feel you are underpaid, ask your union.  Or get in touch with the fair work ombudsman.   :(

Like I said. You Lefties here want your pre-Trump Americanisms (Media) here running the Show in our Politics via your ALP, Greens, Teals & One Nation.
....but nooooo. You don't want the American wage system of low pays.

Quite frankly. If you Lefties want to work on behalf of America as it rules our Political way here.
Then take a pay cut ✂️! As you deserve to have it.

Now answer that one WhiteKnight  ;)

Small business / sole traders: ABS data for 2022–23 shows median own unincorporated business income of just $11,751 per year. The mean was $28,484. This is business income, not an hourly wage, and many owners take their income directly from business profits. �
Australian Bureau of Statistics +1
Farmers/agriculture: ABS reported median employment income of $37,568 for people whose main job was in agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2022–23. �
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Hours: Owner-managers had a median working week of around 45 hours, while crop farmers averaged about 51 hours a week.
Farm profitability is volatile: ABS reported that agriculture, forestry and fishing earnings fell 35.4% in 2023–24. �
Australian Bureau of Statistics
In plain terms: Australian small-business owners can have relatively low personal business income despite working long hours, while farmers' incomes can fluctuate substantially from year to year. The ABS figures don't directly calculate an hourly wage, but they provide the income and hours needed to demonstrate how an owner's effective hourly return can fall well below the minimum wage.

Gnads wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 7:14pm:

UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 30th, 2026 at 1:45pm: It depends on the demand. I did an health assistance course with the university. Had it not been for some dyke, ex-junkie having her jealousy fit, I would probably be working in an aged care facility. The money is not all that good for what you do, working in aged care. So, I think the talk of demand for workers there is just all talk. It all worked for the best ey? I wouldn't want you looking after me or any other person in an aged care facility.

Oh, trust me. I would not want to look after your geriatric ass either. But if that job was the only one available, I would have to work in aged care.

Gnads wrote on Sep 30^th, 2026 at 7:12pm:

UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 30th, 2026 at 1:27pm: Or get another job. You've had plenty - of 5 minute appearances. Don't want to affect the dole payments with too many hours.

Nah. I just caught up in what my job network member referred to as being "comfortably uncomfortable". Or was the "uncomfortably comfortable"? That is what happens when your expenses are low, and you only have to do (nearly) free courses, declare job searchs, and get income tested.

Besides, I think I would have a reasonable job that paid $52,000 a year rather than get by on $40,000.

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 1^st, 2026 at 6:46am:

Gnads wrote on Sep 30th, 2026 at 7:14pm: UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 30th, 2026 at 1:45pm: It depends on the demand. I did an health assistance course with the university. Had it not been for some dyke, ex-junkie having her jealousy fit, I would probably be working in an aged care facility. The money is not all that good for what you do, working in aged care. So, I think the talk of demand for workers there is just all talk. It all worked for the best ey? I wouldn't want you looking after me or any other person in an aged care facility. Oh, trust me. I would not want to look after your geriatric ass either. But if that job was the only one available, I would have to work in aged care.

;D

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 1^st, 2026 at 6:52am:

Besides, I think I would have a reasonable job that paid $52,000 a year rather than get by on $40,000.

How about that. I just had a look at my recent income tax receipt. I earned $29,000 in the last financial year. Anyone else here earn as little as me? A little more than $500 per week.

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2026 at 11:46am:

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 1st, 2026 at 6:52am: Besides, I think I would have a reasonable job that paid $52,000 a year rather than get by on $40,000. How about that. I just had a look at my recent income tax receipt. I earned $29,000 in the last financial year. Anyone else here earn as little as me? A little more than $500 per week.

You pay for SFA for anything else - you're doing alright on the tax payer dime.

Gnads wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2026 at 6:47pm:

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 2nd, 2026 at 11:46am: UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 1st, 2026 at 6:52am: Besides, I think I would have a reasonable job that paid $52,000 a year rather than get by on $40,000. How about that. I just had a look at my recent income tax receipt. I earned $29,000 in the last financial year. Anyone else here earn as little as me? A little more than $500 per week. You pay for SFA for anything else - you're doing alright on the tax payer dime.

70% of my income is from work. I average $500/fortnight from Centrelink. Admittedly, Centrelink covers rent, food, and fuel. The rest of my work income covers electricity and phone.