Two workers underpaid by $86,000, Fair Work Ombudsman says

A Sydney-based couple were underpaid by more than $86,000, and were paid as low as $8 per hour, the Fair Work Ombudsman alleged.

An employer who allegedly underpaid two employees more than $86,000 will face court. Source: AAP

Two Sydney-based workers were underpaid by more than $86,000, with rates as low as $8 per hour, the Fair Work Ombudsman says.

The Ombudsman alleges ABCO Plastics (Delahill) at Guildford in Sydney underpaid a Sri Lankan couple who were in their 50s and spoke limited English.

Their employer allegedly paid them flat rates of $8 during a probation period before paying $13 and $14, between July 2009 and June 2010 (husband) and January 2010 and September 2014 (wife).

The employees were entitled to more than $17 an hour and up to $32 an hour for overtime, the Ombudsman said.

Delahill and its director will face the Federal Circuit Court after a Compliance Notice in April to rectify the underpayments was not met.

The employer and his company could face fines of about $30,000 and the Ombudsman is seeking a court order to back pay the employees in full.