Coles has been criticised and caught out by the Fair Work Ombudsman in an exploitation scandal that reveals their trolley collectors are paid as little as $5 an hour.

The supermarket giant has had to back-pay the owed wages, and set aside another $500,000 for potential cases that have yet to be uncovered.

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James told The Australian that it’s time big companies stop shifting the blame and saying that it’s not their responsibility.

Coles uses subcontractor arrangements for trolley collectors, and as Ms James said: “It is time big business stopped wiping its hands of the problem with the excuse that it was not the (direct) employer.”


“The community expects more from established and profitable brands. And the law can extend legal responsibility up the supply chain ... we will look up to the business at the top.”

A court found that 10 Adelaide trolley collectors have been grossly underpaid more than $220,000 in 18 months.

One of the employees was an Indian migrant. He hadn’t received 65% of his total wages, which amounted to $90,000.

they subcontract to dodgy brothers BECAUSE they don't wantto pay full wages. How they can claim they aren't responsible is beyond me.