The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has issued a strong reminder to employers to ensure advertised pay rates meet legal minimums, after more than $185,000 in fines were handed out since new rules banning unlawful job ads came into effect.

In 2024–25, the FWO issued 318 infringement notices to employers advertising illegal pay rates, with penalties totalling $111,306. This figure is more than double the 156 fines issued the previous year, when penalties reached almost $74,000.

Employers must ensure advertised pay rates align with the relevant award, enterprise agreement or the National Minimum Wage.

Focus on Early Intervention

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the regulator is focused on stopping underpayments before they start.

“Stamping out job ads that offer dodgy pay rates prevents workers from being underpaid from the get-go and ensures a fair playing field for businesses that are doing the right thing,” she said.

“Employers have a clear obligation to advertise only lawful pay rates, and those doing the wrong thing are being hit with fines. Prevention is better than cure, so we’ve also met with major job platforms to push for stronger safeguards.”

Real Examples of Fines

Some recent penalties highlight how common these breaches can be:

• A fast food outlet was fined $660 after advertising casual kitchen hand roles at $17 per hour, around $15 below the award rate.
• A sole trader in the disability support sector was fined $313 for advertising a $22 per hour role, about $10 below minimum wage.
• A restaurant received a $330 fine for advertising kitchen hand roles at $12–$24 per hour, up to $12.10 below the award.

These interventions not only resulted in fines but also forced employers to amend their ads to comply with minimum wage laws.

High-Risk Sectors Under the Spotlight

The FWO continues to prioritise sectors with a high number of vulnerable workers, including fast food, restaurants, cafés and disability support. Many employees in these industries are young people or migrants, making them more at risk of exploitation.

Visa holders have the same rights as all other workers, and protections are in place if they report workplace exploitation.