Transport business owner fined for underpaying driver

The owner of a Victorian transport business has been fined $42,075 after underpaying a truck driver and then restructuring his business in an attempt to avoid back payment, according to an article in smartcompany.com.au.

Malcolm Leech, owner of Newstead-based freight transport business Foure Mile, was fined by the Federal Circuit Court in Melbourne.

The truck driver was underpaid $41,303 between 2005 and 2010 through underpayment of the minimum cents-per-km rate, wages, annual leave entitlements, public holiday pay and wages in lieu of notice.

After the driver lodged a complaint, the Fair Work Ombudsman investigated and launched legal action in 2011 against both Leech and Foure Mile.

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