The federal government has vowed to stamp out the sort of workplace exploitation seen in the 7-Eleven scandal by a 10-fold increase in penalties.
Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has flagged a $20 million boost for the Fair Work Ombudsman to crack down on employer wrongdoing.
The ombudsman will also get powers similar to the corporate and consumer watchdogs to gather information and compel people to give evidence.
A migrant workers taskforce will be established within the ombudsman to specifically look at the 7-Eleven situation, Senator Cash told ABC radio on Thursday.
The convenience store chain last week sacked an independent panel, headed by former Australian Competition and Consumer chairman Allan Fels, which was overseeing repayments to under-paid workers.
The ombudsman and Professor Fels would have oversight of the in-house process, Senator Cash said.
So far about 400 employees have been paid a combined $12 million with another 1900 cases still to be assessed.
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