Melbourne. More than 30 restaurants, cafes and fast food businesses operating in the busy business area of Melbourne, Australia, are under the surveillance of government agencies. Government officials conducted a special inspection for three days on suspicion that employees were not being paid properly and did not fulfill their legal obligations related to tax and retirement savings.
A joint team comprising officials from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Fair Work Ombudsman conducted emergency inspections at various businesses. Based on the information gathered during the inspection, further investigation, audit and legal action will be taken if necessary, the relevant authorities said.
The business was selected for monitoring on the basis of information and complaints received from the community. There is also a provision for the general public to file a complaint keeping their identity confidential if they are aware of the violation of the rules.
Nepali students narrate workplace problems
Along with government monitoring, questions have also been raised about the problems faced by international students working in Australia. Nepali students who work to meet their studies and expenses are also affected by the problems of working in cash, getting low wages, facing harassment and not getting wages for their work.
Smarika Rai, a Nepali international student working in Melbourne, told Nepal News Bank that she had to face harassment and mental pressure while working. She said that she was paid less than what she was entitled to under the law and did not even get her last minute salary for her work. Kamana Shrestha, a Nepali student in the Sunshine Coast, shared her experience that she was given free work for a week on the promise of employment. According to Shrestha, she was initially asked to work for a week as a training. She said that after that, she was assured of employment, but later she found that other students were also given the same assurance and provided free work. These experiences of the students illustrate the problems faced by international students studying and working in Australia. In particular, new students are at risk because they do not have adequate knowledge about their right to work, minimum wage, and the legal obligations of their employers. Paying in cash does not exempt them from legal liability
According to Australia’s labour law, international students on visas are entitled to the same minimum wage and basic workplace rights as other workers. Even when paid in cash, the employer must meet the obligations related to taxes, wage records, and superannuation.
All the work done in the name of training is not automatically free. There is a legal provision that the employees should be paid according to the nature and circumstances of the work.
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, more than 5.6 million Australian dollars were collected in arrears from 3,538 employees in the fast-food, restaurant and café sector in the 2025-26 financial year. The latest campaign, dubbed “Operation Resonance”, has brought the restaurant and café sector back to the spotlight on whether the rules related to pay, taxes and retirement savings are being followed. Further details are yet to be made public as the investigation into the
monitored businesses is ongoing.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्
