Melb asylum seeker gets $8700 in back pay

An asylum seeker in Melbourne has received almost $9000 in back pay after his employer paid him as little as $540 for working a 50-hour week.

An asylum seeker on a bridging visa was paid as much as $34 per hour less than he was entitled to be while working as a furniture removalist and truck driver in Melbourne.

The Fair Work Ombudsman on Thursday said the Sri Lankan man regularly worked 50 hours a week but was only paid for 30 to 38 hours at a "going rate" of $18 per hour. That's well below the award rate, which pays up to $52.25 per hour on public holidays.

The employer has been forced to pay the man $8711 to address the shortfall.