Following on from the Seven/Eleven wage theft scandal, one of Australia's largest and most profitable companies 'Woolworths' has admitted that over the past 10 years it has stolen $300 million in wages from its employees across the range of it retail operations. How prevalent is wage theft, in particular in the service/retail industries. Businesses which employ child labour, migrants, students, casuals, part timers, unskilled workers, businesses where union representation is low or non existent, businesses where workers have little knowledge of their rights. Is wage theft an accident, or is it a business prerogative to steal from often the lowest paid of workers?

Dear Paul,

It appears that in Australia wage theft is the norm not
the exception where those in control exploit the
vulnerable and the uninformed. That to my memory has existed
for a while and it is the government's responsibility to
control. But I suspect that some politicians sanction
such behavior in the interests of getting political donations.
The water rights of the recent news on the Murray-Darling
and other water management seems to demonstrate this.
As does the sale of land to China.

It appears that Woolworths have been underpaying their
employees over the past ten years while their executives
were getting big bonuses. And Woolworths is not the only
big company, others have also been mentioned. By the way
Woolworths is as we know, an American company. What about
Macdonalds, Hungry Jacks, et al? Is wage theft an American
blight?

Yes and it seems creating a lower income group is seen as ok by our current government
Every unpaid dollar is one not being spent and the economy suffers
We need a change in direction, put those who thieve wages in prison

No body here could possibly know whether it is or not.

It is German and it is spam, one of its offers is a green card for work in America, no business needing to post such things is worth trusting

Dear Belly,

You're right - it is spam and should be deleted.