Australia’s Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has launched fresh court proceedings against Kinsfolk Retail Pty Ltd, the franchisee that operates an IGA supermarket in Narrandera, New South Wales. In papers filed with the Federal Circuit and Family Court on 28 July 2026, the regulator alleges the company and two directors short-changed a Nepalese temporary-visa employee by AUD 93,257 between August 2021 and May 2023 and then tried to conceal the breach with false payroll records. The worker, employed to restock shelves and unload trucks, was allegedly paid a flat hourly rate well below the General Retail Industry Award. If proven, the contraventions carry maximum penalties of AUD 93,900 per breach for the company and AUD 18,780 for the individuals. The FWO is also seeking a court order for full back-payment plus interest. The case underscores the agency’s post-pandemic focus on protecting migrant workers, who represent a growing share of Australia’s regional workforce but remain highly vulnerable to exploitation. Supermarket and convenience-store chains have been on notice since a 2025 FWO audit found 28 per cent non-compliance in the sector. For global mobility managers the message is clear: any organisation placing foreign nationals in regional retail or hospitality roles should double-check award coverage, overtime and record-keeping requirements. Failure to do so can derail assignments, trigger visa-sponsorship sanctions and generate reputational risk throughout a supply chain.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman
