What is Wage Theft?

When you go to work, you have a right to be paid your entitlements. In addition to your wages, this may also include leave, allowances, meal breaks and superannuation.

If you have not received your pay or entitlements, this may be wage theft, if what you are owed has been withheld with dishonest intentions.

It is a criminal offence under the Wage Theft Act for an employer to:

• dishonestly withhold employee pay
• dishonestly withhold entitlements like leave or superannuation; or
• falsify entitlement records or not keep records to gain a financial advantage.

If an underpayment was an honest mistake, it may not be wage theft.