Melbourne massage parlour fined for underpaying workers - Daily Mail

[massage]

• Masseuses illegally charged for being 'too noisy' and 'lacking passion'
• A Federal Court judge ordered Lu's Healthcare, Melbourne, pay $100,000
• Fair Work investigation was launched after two staff grossly underpaid
• Bizarre business model widespread throughout Australian massage shops

By David Jeans For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 02:41 EST, 23 March 2016 | Updated: 05:50 EST, 23 March 2016


A massage business that fined its therapists for being 'too noisy' or 'lacking passion' has been ordered to pay $100,000 for fraudulently penalising and grossly underpaying staff.

Lu's Healthcare Pty Ltd, which has parlours in Melbourne's CBD and Richmond, was fined $118,800 by a federal judge for gross underpayment of two staff members, both Chinese nationals.

An investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman, revealed the massage business had an in-house code of conduct where workers were fined $20 for 'noise making and playing around' and sleeping or lying on massage tables.

An investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman, revealed the massage business had an in-house code of conduct where workers were fined $20 for 'noise making and playing around' and sleeping or lying on massage tables (stock photo)

Lu's Healthcare Pty Ltd, which has parlours in Melbourne's CBD and Richmond, was fined $118,800 by a federal judge for gross underpayment of two staff members, both Chinese nationals (stock photo)


A 'lack of passion or good hospitality' would see therapists pay $50 in fines and arriving late to work was the highest penalty - $100 per offence.

Speaking on the phone during a massage would result in job termination and a 'resistance to hard work' would see the therapist demoted to 'apprentice'.


The businesses illegal practices were exposed when a man, owed $33,000 and a 19-year-old female therapist, owed $19,000 went to the Fair Work Ombudsman with their concerns. Both have since been repaid following the court ruling.

The bizarre business model is widespread in Australia among massage parlours that exploit foreign students and workers visiting Australia on the 417 backpacker working holiday visa, Fair Work Ombudsman intelligence suggests.

Findings included underpayment of wages, non-payment of wages, failure by employers to issue-pay slips or keep proper employment records and possible sham contracting arrangements.

Workers are typically paid 50 per cent of the cost of the massage, with no remuneration for periods they spend at the business without clients (stock photo)


Workers are typically paid 50 per cent of the cost of the massage, with no remuneration for periods they spend at the business without clients.

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said the financial penalties handed down by the federal court to Lu's Healthcare sent a strong deterrence to parlours exploiting workers in Australia.

Since 2009, the ombudsman has investigated massage shops in Adelaide, Darwin, Newcastle,Coffs Harbour, Hobart and on the Gold Coast.

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said the financial penalties handed down by the federal court to Lu's Healthcare sent a strong deterrence to parlours exploiting workers in Australia (stock photo)

Since 2009, the ombudsman has investigated massage shops in Adelaide, Darwin, Newcastle,Coffs Harbour, Hobart and on the Gold Coast (stock photo)







Read more:

Let's block ads! (Why?)