Restaurateur liable for underpayment
A city restaurateur who underpaid a migrant couple who spoke little English by $80,000 has been held personally liable and fined $42,000.
The WA Industrial Magistrate's court has ordered that Vincent Todaro, of Venezia restaurant in Pier Street, pay the money to a former cook and a former kitchen hand.
Mr Todaro's company VST Pty Ltd was first ordered to pay $78,000 to Ning Wei Lei and Kenny Meng Wai Ng in September 2010 after they were paid less than $10 an hour over 21 months to late 2007.
But soon after the ruling, VST ceased trading.
The Fair Work Ombudsman took the case to court to have Mr Todaro held personally liable.
The Venezia restaurant has since closed. Mr Todaro could not be contacted.
