Ombudsman recovers $500k

THE federal Workplace Ombudsman has finalised the recovery almost $500,000 in back pay for hundreds of Western Australian workers during the past year.

Following the latest round of investigations, Workplace Ombudsman WA director Leigh Quealy said Kalgoorlie-based security workers were short-changed $156,000 from several companies.

The $156,000 recovery comes on top of $600,000 recouped for about 350 workers by the Kalgoorlie office throughout 2008.

Inspectors from the federal Workplace Ombudsman's Bunbury office have reclaimed $260,000 in back pay for 280 workers at 105 businesses during the past 12 months.

Of the money recouped, $104,000 was reimbursed to almost 200 workers at 39 businesses in the Bunbury area.

In Mandurah, inspectors recovered $42,000 in back pay for more than 20 workers at 15 local businesses during the past year.

Federal Workplace Ombudsman inspectors also recovered $12,000 in back pay for six workers at three Margaret River businesses over the past 12 months.