Myer cleaners accuse retailer of underpayment, denying entitlements with 'sham contracting' practice

Cleaners working at the retail icon Myer say they are being underpaid and denied entitlements through an illegal practice known as sham contracting. Email 7.30syd@your.abc.net.au David, a cleaner at Myer's flagship Melbourne store who has asked 7.30 to conceal his identity because he fears losing his job, said he gets paid a flat rate of $20 per hour by a Spotless subcontractor called INCI Corp. "It doesn't matter if it's weekends, or holidays, late hours, long hours, it's all just a flat rate," he said. The Fair Work Ombudsman has for some time held concerns about the workplace practices, including allegations of underpayment of workers, by cleaning contractors engaged by Myer at various sites "They can't just the contract and then put their head in the sand and forget about it." "Cleaners for Myer stores are provided by Spotless and we have sought a full and urgent explanation about the matter raised by the ABC," Myer's statement said. "The Fair Work Ombudsman has for some time held concerns about the workplace practices, including allegations of underpayment of workers, by cleaning contractors engaged by Myer at various sites," the Ombudsman said in statement.