Systematic employment law breaches result in a $38,500 fine for outlet operators

Failure to pay annual leave entitlements, breaching pay slip laws, and the absence of written agreements for part-time workers are among the latest wrongdoings uncovered by the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) in its investigation of a United Petroleum outlet in South Australia.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court (the Court) has imposed a $35,000 penalty against Sai Enterprises Pty Ltd (Sai Enterprises), the former operator of the Queenstown United Petroleum outlet, and a $3,500 penalty against the former manager of the store, Raman Monga.

Here, our experts explain the ins and outs of this case, the audit that uncovered a series of serious workplace law breaches, and why compliant processes are a must for every business.

Slick with it: the details of the case

In 2021, FWO commenced an audit of Sai Enterprises as part of an investigation into workplace law breaches and uncovered that the business had failed to pay out a total of $2,668 in accrued but unused annual leave entitlements for three workers at the conclusion of their employment.

And the infringements didn’t stop there, the business also failed to:

• issue payslips within one working day of making a payment; and
• have written agreements in place for part-time staff.

In addition to the $35,000 penalty levied against Sai Enterprises, Mr Monga, the former manager of the store, was also penalised $3,500 for his involvement in these breaches. The three international students were back-paid in full after the FWO started investigating.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has emphasised the critical importance of employers adhering to workplace laws, including paying staff their full entitlements and providing timely pay slips. Judge Stewart Brown reinforced this, highlighting that pay slips are vital for ensuring employees can verify their wages and maintain minimum wage standards. Penalties were imposed to deter future breaches, with Judge Brown noting the significant impact of underpayments on affected workers and the role of investigations in uncovering such issues. Protecting migrant workers remains a priority, and the Ombudsman encourages anyone with concerns to seek free assistance.

This isn’t the first time United Petroleum outlets have been in the FWO’s spotlight: a tale of consistent breaches

The most recent litigation against Sai Enterprises is one of five litigations brought against former operators of United Petroleum-branded outlets following a network-wide investigation into non-compliance. The investigation audited 20 outlets across five states, uncovering widespread issues.

Earlier this year, two cases resulted in $179,221 in penalties for underpayments at Tasmanian outlets, while another operator in Brisbane was fined $15,984 in August 2025. With one case still ongoing, the FWO’s scrutiny of United Petroleum’s network highlights a troubling pattern of breaches.

Compliant processes are essential at every stage of the employee lifecycle

Navigating complex HR obligations can be daunting regardless of the industry your business operates in, but with Citation HR’s expert-backed services, staying compliant has never been easier. Whether you’re managing a full HR team or just starting out, our award-winning HR solutions, including 24/7 HR Advice Line, HR Compliance Audits, and industry-leading HR software, are designed to support your business every step of the way.

Not a Citation HR client? To learn more about how Citation HR can support your business and streamline its people management practices, reach out to our friendly team for a confidential chat here.