Wage theft in universities: significant risk for casualised workforce

Up to one-quarter of Australian universities are suspected to have engaged in wage theft, with the National Tertiary Education Union ("NTEU") gathering information to launch class actions in relation to the recovery of tens of millions of dollars in alleged underpayments to casual workers.

The unlawful underpayment of casual staff is estimated to be between $7 million and $9 million at the University of Sydney alone.

Wage theft

Wage theft is the underpayment of workers, resulting in them receiving less than they are entitled to receive under Australia's workplace relations system. Wage theft can include underpaying wages, penalty rates, superannuation, leave entitlements or making unauthorised deductions from employee pay.