The City of Blacktown RSL Sub Branch elected its officers for the next three years ( 2017-2019 ) at the the club ’ s Annual General Meeting held at the RSL Club on February 19 .

Elected were : Tom Baena , president ; Bruce Scott , senior vice president ; Margaret Webb , junior VP and minute secretary ; Rizaldy Pagala , honorary treasurer ;

James Woodforde , pensions officer ; Frank Mossfield and Robert Sandry as welfare officers .

The Committee Members are : Mick Reid , Dave

Blackman , Sam Sultana , Robert Castor , Gabriel Von Samik , Ken Thomas . Trustees are Max Encomienda ; Jim Bostock ; Ron Torr .

The Fair Work Ombudsman has recovered $ 100,649 for ten seafarers from the Philippines who were underpaid while working in Australian waters . The underpayments occurred during voyages that the foreign-flagged vessel conducted in the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone between January and June 2016 , travelling between ports in Queensland , New South Wales and Victoria .

During the voyages , the lowest ranked crew members received as little as $ 5 per hour .

The highest amount recovered for an individual worker was $ 16,677 .

The workers were paid base salaries in accordance with international minimum wage rates .

However , because the voyages were conducted within Australian waters the employees should have been paid in accordance with their relevant ranks under Australian workplace laws .

Under Australia ’ s Seagoing Industry Award 2010 the lowest ranked workers were entitled to receive at least $ 17.29 per hour and $ 21.61 for overtime hours .

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated the matter after receiving a tip-off alleging that the crew of the vessel were not being paid in accordance with the relevant award .

The operator of the vessel , an international company with headquarters outside of Australia , claimed that it was unaware its obligations under Australian workplace laws because it had never operated voyages within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone before .

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says minimum rates of pay apply to everyone working in Australia and they are not negotiable .

“ Our online tools and resources can assist employers to determine their applicable Award , as well as classification and pay rates , allowances , overtime and penalty rates ,” Ms James says .

The company cooperated with Inspectors ,

rectified the underpayments voluntarily and demonstrated a willingness to learn about and comply with their obligations under the Fair Work system .

A formal Letter of Caution was also issued , placing the employer on notice that future breaches of Australian Workplace laws

may trigger enforcement action , including litigation .

Employers , including international businesses that employ workers in Australia , can sign up to the Fair Work Ombudsman ’ s My Account service to receive email updates on pay rates . [ FAIRWORK . GOV . AU ]