SA: Trolley collector firms underpaid workers, ombudsman alleges

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2007
SA: Trolley collector firms underpaid workers, ombudsman alleges

Two trolley collection companies have underpaid workers by almost 300 thousand dollars
.. according to workplace ombudsman NICHOLAS WILSON.

Mr WILSON claims around 135 trolley collectors have been underpaid by Risborg Pty Ltd
and MK Angelopolous Pty Ltd.

The alleged breaches of the Workplace Relations Act will be prosecuted in the Federal
Court .. with an initial hearing set for Monday.

Risborg has trolley collection contracts for retailers including Woolworths .. Coles
and Bi Lo .. while MK Angelopolous has contracts with three Woolworths supermarkets in
Adelaide.

All underpayment allegations centre on Adelaide locations.







Mr WILSON alleges Risborg underpaid around 130 of its casual trolley collectors by
about 250 thousand dollars .. and MK Angelopolous underpaid five collectors more than
28 thousand.

He alleges Risborg also paid workers as little as $6.50 an hour .. well below the federal
minimum wage of $16.16 an hour.

Mr WILSON says trolley collectors are often the most vulnerable of the vulnerable in
the workforce and the community.

He says many long term unemployed .. and those affected by mental illness and other
disabilities work in the sector.

Mr WILSON says the workplace ombudsman will enforce the community's expectation that
the rights of these vulnerable workers are protected.

AAP RTV sl/bart

KEYWORD: TROLLEY (ADELAIDE)

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