7-Eleven worker paid 47 cents an hour

February 19, 2016
Issue 
1084

A Pakistani student, Sohail, was paid only 47 cents an hour to work at a 7-Eleven store in Sydney. He is one of 60 workers claiming back pay from 7-Eleven.

When another worker, Pranay Alawala, complained about receiving only $12 an hour, his employer said they would tell immigration officials he had been working too many hours, which was in breach of his student visa. He received $33,000 in back pay.

Giri Sivaraman from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, which is representing the workers, said: "They're unaware of what they should be paid, they're unaware of their rights in relation to safety, they're unaware of their rights to take breaks and of their rights to complain."

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Workers & unions
7-Eleven
underpayment of wages
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers

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