In June 2022, new compliance and enforcement provisions were introduced that provided enhanced powers and a new range of compliance tools that can be used by industrial inspectors.

These new tools include the ability for industrial inspectors to issue compliance notices, infringement notices, and to enter into enforceable undertakings.

Recently, industrial inspectors have commenced issuing compliance notices.

Compliance notices are only issued where an industrial inspector has a reasonable belief that an employer has failed to meet all or part of its employer obligations (such as failing to pay the minimum wage). A compliance notice requires an employer to take specific action to rectify contraventions (such as rectifying identified underpayments) within a specified timeframe. 

If you receive a compliance notice, it is important that you take action. Failure to comply with a compliance notice can lead to penalties of up to $6,000 for an individual and $30,000 for a body corporate, in addition to any underpayment of wages that may need to be rectified.

For further information on compliance notices, or any of the other compliance tools recently introduced, visit www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/PSLRcompliancetools