Wage theft is a fact of life for many people, especially migrants and other vulnerable workers, a Queensland government inquiry has heard.
The state government has commissioned a parliamentary inquiry into wage theft, where employers withhold some or all workers' pay, with a public hearing to be held on Thursday.
In a combined submission, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and prominent unions including United Voice and Together are calling on the practice to be criminalised.
They recommend a system of fines and potential jail time for employers and companies that underpay their workers.
In particular, backpackers, students and migrant workers are identified as at risk because they are often not in a position to report underpayments.
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A submission from an apprenticeship group says there is a "hidden iceberg of theft", with apprentices often employed under temporary contracts and then not paid for their work.
However, business groups warn efforts to legislate against the practice could snare businesses that do not deliberately pay their employees the wrong amount.
The National Retail Association argues the complexity of modern awards means many employers unwittingly underpay employees, a situation that is "alarmingly common".
The association argues wage theft will never be completely eradicated because there will always be employers with "insufficient understanding" or "insufficient scruples".
The committee is due to report on its findings by November 16.
