Tougher laws introduced to tackle superannuation theft

If legislated, the bill would see employers who don’t comply with their employee’s entitlements face civil penalties.

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke said the Protecting Worker Entitlements Bill would benefit workers who are not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement that contains a right to superannuation.

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The bill allows these types of employees to take direct legal action for the recovery of unpaid superannuation.

Mr Burke said it would protect more workers from underpayment of superannuation contributions.

“This government stands against all forms of wage theft and worker exploitation,” Minister Burke said.

“Superannuation theft undermines the efforts of Australian workers to build a financially secure retirement.”

Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones said it was critical all Australian workers have access to superannuation.

“We created superannuation, and we believe in it; that’s why the Albanese government is strengthening the superannuation system so that it is equitable, sustainable and delivers for all Australian workers,” he said.

Currently, workers not covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement containing a term requiring an employer to make superannuation contributions are reliant on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) intervening to recover lost superannuation and receive their rightful entitlements.

This change will complement the ATO’s powers, providing the strongest possible protection for employees against unpaid super.

The ATO’s most recent estimate of unpaid superannuation indicates that workers lost $3.4 billion in unpaid super in 2019–20.

“It is simply not good enough that employees are missing out on their superannuation. No employee should have their retirement incomes sabotaged by dodgy or negligent employers,” Minister Burke said.

“This legislation will increase the number of employees who will have the right to directly pursue superannuation owed to them. Employers may also face civil penalties if they do not comply with the entitlement.

“We made an election commitment to amend the Fair Work Act to include a right to superannuation, and now we are delivering for Australian workers.”

Industry Super Australia (ISA) has previously welcomed the government’s commitment to including super in the National Employment Standards.

The industry body said the government should go further to address the underpayment of superannuation, however, by mandating the payment of super with wages and placing targets on the ATO’s recovery activities.

“Mandating the payment of super with wages is an overdue solution that will go a long way to addressing this national problem,” said ISA.

“It will make it easier for employees to track their super and reduce the instance of employers using super to manage cash flow and accumulate large unpaid super liabilities.”