The Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman is prosecuting the operator of a Surfers Paradise pizza shop for allegedly underpaying 27 cooks, kitchen-hands, customer service attendants and delivery drivers almost $20,000.
It is alleged the 27 Mondo Pizza staff were underpaid $19,093 between December 2009 and October 2010.
Many of the workers were from non-English speaking backgrounds and were aged from 20 to 37 while working at the pizza shop. They were allegedly underpaid minimum hourly wages, overtime and weekend penalties, with one employee allegedly underpaid evening work allowances.
The largest amount owed to an individual employee was allegedly $2,313.
The FWO is seeking penalties to be imposed against the company and its owner and orders for the company to pay back the alleged underpayments to the employees.