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Masterchef Judge George Calombaris Fined $200,000 For Underpaying Staff By $7.8 Million

Masterchef Judge George Calombaris Fined $200,000 For Underpaying Staff By $7.8 Million

His restaurant empire has now paid back all current and former staff.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

George Calombaris has been fined $200,000 after authorities found he hadn't properly paid more than 500 current and former staff at his restaurants.

The Masterchef Australia judge has been under investigation by Fair Work Australia, who discovered staff employed by his MAdE Establishment group weren't paid $7.8 million.

In a statement, Calombaris said: "We apologise to all our affected team members, past and present - as it is our people that make our restaurants great, and it is our priority to ensure all of our employees feel respected, rewarded and supported in their roles," he said in a statement.

Channel 10

"We are committed to acting as a force for change in the industry and leading by example when it comes to building and promoting supportive, healthy and compliant hospitality workplaces."

The MAdE Establishment group has now back paid all the staff who were missing payments from 2011 to 2017.

In addition to forking out nearly a quarter of a million bucks, Calombaris has been ordered to 'complete speaking arrangements to educate the restaurant industry on the importance of workplace compliance'.

It's hope this clause will send a message to other restaurateurs about the dangers they face when they don't pay their staff correctly.

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said: "MAdE's massive back-payment bill should serve as a warning to all employers that if they don't get workplace compliance right from the beginning, they can spend years cleaning up the mess."

Surprisingly, this isn't the first time a Masterchef judge has been called out for underpaying staff.

Former BBC1 MasterChef host and Michelin-starred, Le Gavroche restaurant owner Michel Roux Jr was found to be paying employees below the minimum wage in the UK.

A Guardian investigation found some people in his London restaurants were earning as little as £5.50 per hour when the minimum is nearly two pounds higher.

Michel Roux Jr.
PA

Speaking to The Caterer, Roux Jr said: "The buck stops with me and I take responsibility for ballsing up on this particular front.

"I am embarrassed and I am sorry, but in no way was it done intentionally. We are not above the law and I am not in any way looking for excuses but there were some mitigating circumstances.

"Because ... I am very hands on... maybe the managers and head chefs didn't come to report to me because they thought I knew. It is my fault."

Roux Jr committed to paying back all the staff who were short of payments.

Featured Image Credit: Channel 10

Topics: News, Australia