The Fair Work Ombudsman has launched Federal Circuit and Family Court proceedings over allegations that a worker from Nepal was underpaid more than $93,000 while employed at an IGA supermarket in regional New South Wales.
In a media release dated 28 July 2026, the regulator alleged that the Nepalese visa holder was paid a flat rate of $15 an hour for substantial periods of work and was underpaid $93,257 in total.
The allegations are before the court and have not been finally determined. Australia Nepal is therefore reporting them as allegations made by the Fair Work Ombudsman, not as proven findings against the respondents.
The case is a reminder that migrant and visa workers in Australia have workplace rights. The Fair Work Ombudsman says visa holders and migrant workers are generally entitled to the same minimum wages and workplace protections as other employees.
Workers who are unsure about their pay should keep records of hours worked, rosters, bank payments and payslips where available. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides free information about pay rates and workplace entitlements.
Anyone facing a workplace dispute should seek advice appropriate to their own circumstances. Immigration status can make people reluctant to speak up, but being on a visa does not give an employer permission to pay below lawful minimum entitlements.