A FAIR Work Ombudsman campaign in towns north of Bendigo found less than half of the audited businesses were compliant with all responsibilities to their staff.
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The campaign included spot checks on 251 businesses in the Loddon, Elmore and Campaspe regions. Of those investigaed, 63 were asked to back-pay a total of $80,116 to 183 employees.
Three employers received on-the-spot fines of up to $1700 for breaches of record keeping and payslip obligations, while a further three received cautions.
Businesses in a range of industries, including dairy, in Wedderburn, Inglewood, Bridgewater, Boort, Pyramid Hill, Kyabram, Rochester, Rushworth, Leitchville and Tongala were among those investigated.
Inspectors found 69 per cent of the businesses were paying their employees correctly, 59 per cent were compliant with their record keeping and payslip obligations, while 45 per cent were compliant with all responsibilities.
The campaign followed a sharp increase in the number of workers seeking assistance in the Loddon-Elmore region in recent years.
Between 2011 and 2014, requests for help in the region increased 60 per cent. In Campaspe, there was an increase of 48 per cent.
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said the campaign aimed to boost employer awareness and to help them build a stronger culture of compliance.
Businesses found to be non-compliant will be re-audited by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Employers and employees can contact 13 13 94 to seek assistance.