Berry farm passes audit test

By Melissa Meehan
A YARRA Valley berry farm has been given the all clear after a lightning raid by the federal Workplace Ombudsman.
An audit conducted by the federal Workplace Ombudsman on the Big Berry Farm has found berry packers were being paid lawfully and record keeping requirements were in generally good condition.
The Workplace Ombudsman executive director Michael Campbell said workplace inspectors conducted onsite interviews with the employer and workers and checked records in December late last year after conducting a random audit focussing on the agricultural and horticultural industries.
“The audit conducted in the Big Berry Farm is now closed with one technical breach having been discovered,” Mr Campbell said.
“The employer was issued with a breach notice for not including the pickets in setting piece rates as required to do so under the Horticultural Industry Award 2000.”
Mr Campbell said although the results of this audit were generally good, the Workplace Ombudsman still had concerns about the setting of piece rates for employees in the horticultural industry in general.
“That is why we will continue to monitor the situation in relation to the entitlements of fruit pickers around the country,” Mr Campbell said.
“We also have the Yarra Valley Compliance Campaign happening at the moment which includes audits of farms and retailers in the region which was launched last month.”
The Yarra Valley Compliance Campaign aims to educate fruit farmers and retail employers in meeting their obligations under federal legislation.
The campaign is expected to continue to at least mid-May.