Skip to content
Employment Relations, Industrial Relations

Gippsland restaurant fined $4000 for child employment breaches

Wage Inspectorate Victoria 3 mins read

A Gippsland restaurant has been fined $4000 in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to 40 breaches of Victoria’s child employment laws.

Wage Inspectorate Victoria, the state’s child employment regulator, began investigating Paynesville restaurant Deja’s Pty Ltd, trading as Three Double 8 Zero Pizza Bar & Grill, after receiving a tip-off from the community alleging child employment breaches. 

Today, Three Double 8 Zero Pizza Bar & Grill pleaded guilty to:

  • employing 5 children under 15 without a permit on 161 occasions
  • employing children for more hours than they are permitted to work
  • employing children later than 9pm
  • failing to provide rest breaks of 30-minutes for every 3 hours worked
  • failing to provide a break of at least 12 hours between shifts.

The offences took place between 22 May 2022 and 5 February 2023.

The Wage Inspectorate’s investigation found that, despite being contacted by the regulator about child employment matters in November 2022, the restaurant continued to employ children without the required permits and in breach of child employment conditions until 5 February 2023.

In sentencing, Her Honour Magistrate Howe noted that a member of the community was so concerned for a child’s welfare that they took it upon themselves to report the employment to the Wage Inspectorate.

Her Honour also noted the failure of the restaurant to act once the investigation was on foot displayed a lax attitude toward its obligations as an employer.

Her Honour did not record a conviction, taking into account the restaurant’s contribution to the Paynesville community, as well as its early guilty plea.

Quotes attributable to Robert Hortle, Commissioner of Wage Inspectorate Victoria

“It beggars belief that a business could be contacted by the Wage Inspectorate about child employment matters, then continue to employ kids for another 2 months. It shows a disregard for the law and the potential risks to children.”

“This matter serves as a warning to any business shirking child employment laws. Not only do we have officers inspecting businesses across Victoria, but we have a community that is very protective of children’s wellbeing and will let us know when they see something of concern, as happened in this case.

“Working can provide valuable experience for kids but there’s risks involved, which is why a business needs a licence to employ kids under 15.”

“Kids under 15 are still developing and don’t have the stamina of adults, so they need rest breaks, a suitable gap between shifts and they shouldn’t be working late. The message is simple – getting informed is the first step to complying.”

Background

An employer usually needs a licence to employ someone under 15, whether the work is paid or voluntary. Employing a child without a licence is a crime and may be penalised.

A streamlined child employment licensing system replaced the permit system on 1 July 2023, reducing the burden on business. Where a licence is issued, employers can employ multiple children under one licence, rather than applying for a permit for each child they engage.

Child employment laws restrict when businesses can employ children and how long they can work:

  • during a school term, children can be employed for a maximum of 3 hours a day and 12 hours a week
  • during school holidays, children can be employed up to 6 hours a day and 30 hours a week.
  • children can only work between 6am and 9pm.

Children must also receive a 30-minute rest break after every 3 hours of work.

More information about Victoria’s child employment laws is available on the Wage Inspectorate’s website or by calling 1800 287 287.


Contact details:

Anna Basil-Jones - 0428 627 002 

More from this category

  • Education Training, Employment Relations
  • 17/04/2025
  • 15:53
NTEU

Staff reach breaking point over UTS leaders’ prolonged and severe operational mismanagement

National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) members at University of Technology (UTS) have exposed a litany of serious management failures that are threatening the institution’s fabric. TheAustralian Financial Reviewearlier this week exposedglaring examples of the overwhelming crisis at UTS, reinforcing staff concerns about governance failures. Unaccountable senior university leaders have bungled restructures and major projects, leading to budget blow-outs and soaring workloads. VCAndrew Parfitt has faced disgruntled staff at town halls on multiple occasions to justify these changes. Despite a lack of evidence and logic, he insists the University must cut 400 UTS jobs. In the midst of this turmoil, 2…

  • Industrial Relations, Medical Health Aged Care
  • 16/04/2025
  • 15:23
Health Services Union

HSU celebrates historic day for gender equality after Fair Work decision

HSU celebrates historic day for gender equality after Fair Work decision The Health Services Union is today celebrating an historic decision, with the Fair Work Commission finding minimum award rates of pay for several health, care, and support sector occupations have been undervalued based on gender. The Fair Work Commission has released its first decision into its Gender-Based Undervaluation Review which began last June. It found health professionals, pathology collectors and dental assistants covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award and workers covered by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled…

  • Disability, Employment Relations
  • 16/04/2025
  • 04:00
atWork Australia

Parents need individualised employment support to thrive, says atWork Australia

It can be incredibly challenging for parents to return to work after having a child, and these challenges are further amplified when trying to secure employment as a single parent. For parents living with disability or caring for a child with disability, these barriers can be even greater, highlighting the need for tailored employment support. Recent research from the Australian Bureau of Statistics highlights some motivating factors that encourage parents with children to enter the workforce. The findings show that over half (56.4%) of Australians believe that having the ability to work during school hours is a crucial incentive, while…

  • Contains:

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.