Fair work ombudsman acts on some 600 fast food outlets after receiving complaints of underpayment to foreign employees.

Yummy Noodle Box Franchise is among 600 fast food outlets that have been alleged to have underpaid overseas workers on temporary work visas including the 457 visa.

The Fair Word Ombudsman alleges that the Chinese noodle franchise failed to pay workers on 457 visas close to $650,000 over the last three years, in court documents.

Sydney Morning Herald has reported that six Chinese cooks and kitchen supervisors employed at Yummy Noodle Box takeaway shops in Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst as well as Bundaberg, Queensland, between July 2010 and March last year are collectively owed $642,311.

“The legal action coincides with the Fair Work Ombudsman's announcement of a national audit of 600 fast food outlets to clamp down on unscrupulous bosses underpaying staff and failing to adhere to pay documentation rules,” the report said.

The regulator has taken legal action against W.X.Z. Enterprises and Xin Tai Xu and Xin Chun Xu, who both determined pay rates at the company, after employees complained.

 “The men are accused of paying a flat weekly wage as low as $530, despite some of the employees working for more than 60 hours a week. Weekend penalty rates, public holiday and overtime pay and leave entitlements were withheld.” Said the report.

The companies face penalties up to $51,000 for each breach of the workplace law.

It has been reported that in September a Perth cleaning company was slapped with a record-breaking $340,000 fine for underpaying six workers on working holiday visas from countries including Taiwan, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Ireland.

Last financial year, the workplace authority obtained $1.4 million in entitlements for underpayment for 2018 visa workers and $371,000 for 259 complainants holding 457 visas.