The issue of wage theft has reared its head again this week with a group of celebrity chefs calling for an “amnesty” to allow employers to change their ways. 

They claim workplace law is too complicated and “almost impossible” to comply with, suggesting businesses should be given time to rectify underpayment issues. 

But experts and hospitality workers have rejected those claims and are continuing to push for the criminalisation of wage theft. 

A leaked audit of the company behind Melbourne’s Chin Chin underpaid workers by $340,000 in the 2017-18 financial year. The Lucas Group say underpayment issues have been rectified. But earlier this week Chin Chin hosted a roundtable discussion titled “Profitable compliance – is it possible?” to discuss the supposed complexities of paying workers a legal wage. 

The Informer’s Toby Halligan spoke to Jesse Lewis, a former hospitality worker who’s taken a stand against wage theft, to get their thoughts on an “amnesty” for employers.