Anonymous reports of non-payment of wages in the Print, Media and Telecommunications Industry

Catherine Bouris made this Freedom of Information request to Fair Work Ombudsman

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

The request was successful.

Catherine Bouris

Dear Fair Work Ombudsman,

Could you please send through the latest documents that include any anonymous reports made via the Fair Work Ombudsman online reporting form regarding non-payment of wages in the Print, Media and Telecommunications industry from 2014 onwards?

If possible, please treat this as an administrative/informal request. Otherwise please proceed with my request as a formal information request under the Act.

Yours faithfully,

Catherine Bouris

FWO - FOI Requests, Fair Work Ombudsman

UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Bouris

I confirm receipt of your below email and your request for information about 'Anonymous reports of non-payment of wages in the Print, Media and Telecommunications Industry' made via the Fair Work Ombudsman online reporting form.

So I am able to commence processing your request - it would be appreciated if you were able to contact me by phone (on the details listed below) to clarify the scope of your request.

Thanks

Daniel Menzies | Customer Feedback & Information Access Officer Fair Work Ombudsman
 
T (07) 3404 4767
F (02) 6276 9967

GPO Box 9887 BRISBANE QLD 4001 |  Level 25, 400 George Street, BRISBANE QLD 4001

We welcome feedback about your experience with us. It helps us to know what we’re doing well and what changes we need to make. Tell us what you think about our services, or request a review of a decision, by completing our online feedback form.

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FWO - FOI Requests, Fair Work Ombudsman

For Official Use Only
Dear Ms Bouris

I refer to your Information Access (IA) Request lodged with the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) on Saturday, 13 May 2017 and further phone discussions with you on 19 and 30 May 2017.

We understand the scope of your request to now be – “All documents constituting anonymous reports about unpaid internships in the print, media and telecommunications industry made via the FWO online reporting form since 11 April 2016”.

I confirm that the FWO’s anonymous reporting function commenced on 11 April 2016.

Please confirm that you agree with the above revised scope of your request, by return email to [FWO request email]. Once we have received your confirmation, we will commence searching for relevant documents.

Thanks

Daniel Menzies | Customer Feedback & Information Access Officer Fair Work Ombudsman
 
T (07) 3404 4767
F (02) 6276 9967

GPO Box 9887 BRISBANE QLD 4001 |  Level 25, 400 George Street, BRISBANE QLD 4001

We welcome feedback about your experience with us. It helps us to know what we’re doing well and what changes we need to make. Tell us what you think about our services, or request a review of a decision, by completing our online feedback form.

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Catherine Bouris

Hi Daniel,

Yes, that sounds great, thanks so much.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Bouris

FWO - FOI Requests, Fair Work Ombudsman

UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Bouris

I refer to your Information Access (IA) Request lodged with the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) on Saturday, 13 May 2017 (and further phone discussions with you on 19 and 30 May 2017) – requesting “All documents constituting anonymous reports about unpaid internships in the print, media and telecommunications industry made via the FWO online reporting form since 11 April 2016”.

Following discussions with the team responsible for managing anonymous reports made to FWO through the online reporting form, I can confirm that;

17 anonymous reports have been received where customers have identified unpaid or token pay ($20 per day for lunch) internships and have selected the Print, Media and Telecommunications as the industry group. Of these, 6 are notifying us of advertisements for interns via third parties (Pedestrian, Seek, Indeed etc).

The information received in Anonymous Reports is unverified information from the general public. The FWO uses the information contained in Anonymous Reports to inform current and future activities. The FWO does not publish this information, as the provision of business names by FWO could cause undue harm to the businesses concerned.

This information is being released to you under the FWO’s Information Access Policy (IAP).

Should you have any further questions, or would like to discuss this matter further, I can be contacted at [FWO request email] or on the below-mentioned contact details.

Thanks

Daniel Menzies | Customer Feedback & Information Access Officer Fair Work Ombudsman

T (07) 3404 4767
F (02) 6276 9967

GPO Box 9887 BRISBANE QLD 4001 | Level 25, 400 George Street, BRISBANE QLD 4001

We welcome feedback about your experience with us. It helps us to know what we’re doing well and what changes we need to make. Tell us what you think about our services, or request a review of a decision, by completing our online feedback form.

Daniel Menzies | Customer Feedback & Information Access Officer Fair Work Ombudsman
 
T (07) 3404 4767
F (02) 6276 9967

GPO Box 9887 BRISBANE QLD 4001 |  Level 25, 400 George Street, BRISBANE QLD 4001

We welcome feedback about your experience with us. It helps us to know what we’re doing well and what changes we need to make. Tell us what you think about our services, or request a review of a decision, by completing our online feedback form.

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Catherine Bouris

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for that!

I was just wondering if I could have the number of complaints filed in general, rather than just for the print, media and telecommunications industry as well? As well as how many complaints have been made since April last year about advertisements seeking interns?

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Bouris

FWO - FOI Requests, Fair Work Ombudsman

UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Bouris

As per our discussion on 30 June 2017, I understand the scope of your information access request to be; 'The number of Requests for Assistance (complaints) received by the Fair Work Ombudsman about unpaid internships between 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017'.

Please confirm that you agree with the above revised scope of your request by return email to [FWO request email]. Once we have received your confirmation, we will commence searching for relevant documents.

Please note: As this is a new request, this matter has been recorded under reference number: FOI-000706

Thanks

Daniel Menzies | Customer Feedback & Information Access Officer Fair Work Ombudsman
 
T (07) 3404 4767
F (02) 6276 9967

GPO Box 9887 BRISBANE QLD 4001 |  Level 25, 400 George Street, BRISBANE QLD 4001

We welcome feedback about your experience with us. It helps us to know what we’re doing well and what changes we need to make. Tell us what you think about our services, or request a review of a decision, by completing our online feedback form.

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Catherine Bouris

Hi Daniel,

Yes, that would be great, complaints made overall rather than about a particular industry like my last inquiry.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Bouris

FWO - FOI Requests, Fair Work Ombudsman

UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Bouris

I refer to your Information Access request for 'The number of Requests for Assistance (complaints) received by the Fair Work Ombudsman about unpaid internships between 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017'.

Following consultation with the relevant reporting team, I can confirm that for the time period of 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, there were 48 recorded disputes relating to unpaid internships. Please note however, that the FWO has only collected information specifically related to unpaid internships since February 2017. Prior to February, any relevant statistics about unpaid internships would have been captured within a broader unpaid work category.

Should you have any further questions, or would like to discuss this matter further, I can be contacted at [FWO request email] or on the below-mentioned contact details.

Thanks

Daniel Menzies | Customer Feedback & Information Access Officer Fair Work Ombudsman

T (07) 3404 4767
F (02) 6276 9967

GPO Box 9887 BRISBANE QLD 4001 | Level 25, 400 George Street, BRISBANE QLD 4001

We welcome feedback about your experience with us. It helps us to know what we’re doing well and what changes we need to make. Tell us what you think about our services, or request a review of a decision, by completing our online feedback form.

show quoted sections