A Sydney cleaning business operator has been fined $14,554 after a court found she exploited vulnerable migrant workers and failed to comply with workplace laws.

As per Fair Work statement, the Federal Circuit and Family Court imposed the penalty against sole trader Nereshnie Pather, who operated a business trading as ISHINE PTY LTD, over breaches involving three cleaners employed in 2023 while they were in Australia on working holiday visas, including workers from Taiwan and Chile.

The court heard two of the workers were not paid at all for shifts they worked, while a third worker was underpaid during a five-week period of employment. Pather was also found to have breached pay slip laws.

A Fair Work Inspector issued a Compliance Notice in October 2023 ordering Pather to back-pay the workers under the Cleaning Services Award 2020, but she failed to comply.

In addition to the financial penalty, the court ordered Pather to repay outstanding wages, superannuation and interest owed to the workers.

Judge Mark Cleary found Pather had shown “a complete disregard for legal obligations” and warned there was “a real risk” she could breach workplace laws again in future.

“The need for deterrence is heightened in cases involving the exploitation of vulnerable workers, such as this case,” Judge Cleary said.

Acting Fair Work Ombudsman Rachel Volzke said migrant worker exploitation remained a key enforcement priority.

“Where employers do not comply, we will take appropriate action to protect employees. A court can order a business to pay penalties and to make payments to workers,” she said.

The Fair Work Ombudsman launched the investigation after receiving requests for assistance from the affected workers.

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