Sham contracting page 1 of 7

66 articles are classified in All Articles > Compliance > Sham contracting


More than $1 billion backpaid in past two years: FWO

Large corporates and universities accounted for almost two-thirds of the $509 million in unpaid wages and entitlements recovered by the FWO in 2022-23 on behalf of more than 250,000 workers, the workplace watchdog revealed today.

Commission dashes DoorDasher's hopes

In finding a DoorDash food delivery driver is an independent contractor, the FWC has held that the "issues of control, delegation and equipment" are almost identical to that in a landmark ruling involving the now-defunct Deliveroo platform.

Redefine "employment" to protect gig workers: Academic

IR Minister Tony Burke has outlined some of the entitlements he would like the FWC to include in the minimum conditions it prescribes for gig workers, while emphasising that it will be up to the tribunal to decide what's in and what's out, but a leading IR academic who developed a state labor government's blueprint for labour hire regulation says the new Government's approach will provide "a limited solution".

"Complicated" $65m class action settles for $2m

The Federal Court has approved the $2.05 million settlement of a $65 million class action against marketing agency Appco after finding that further attempts to increase the sum would "likely be a case of throwing good money after bad".



ClubsNSW denies "whistleblower's" sham contracting claim

ClubsNSW is pushing back against a compliance auditor's sham contracting and defamation claims, while also pursuing him in another court for leaking an "alarming" board document to independent MP Andrew Wilkie.

Court allows workers to maintain class action

The Federal Court has refused to "declass", provide an "opt-in" or make a common fund order for a major class action that is seeking entitlements for at least 3350 telecommunications workers allegedly misclassified as subcontractors.

Employee status "not a box-checking exercise": Judge

The Federal Court has rejected a bid by the FWO and CFMMEU to upset a major labour hire company's treatment of workers as independent contractors, finding the service agreement signed by the parties transparently spelt out the true nature of their relationship.

Court puts bite on recalcitrant, underpaying dentist

The former director of a liquidated dental practice has been penalised and ordered to backpay a 457 visa worker thousands of dollars after a second adverse underpayment judgment involving his company.