MELBOURNE EMPLOYERS FACE CRACKDOWN

UP TO 250 businesses in Melbourne's Dandenong region will receive random spot checks from the Fair Work Ombudsman, as part of a new campaign to monitor employee care.

The three-month campaign will have Fair Work inspectors check that employers are paying the correct minimum hourly rates, penalty rates, allowances, loadings and providing appropriate meal breaks.

Compliance with record-keeping and pay-slip obligations will also be monitored.

Businesses located in and around Dandenong, Dandenong South and Springvale will be targeted, but will all be randomly selected.

Employers from a range of sectors will be included, such as road freight transport, building and industrial cleaning, carpentry, takeaway food, cafes and restaurants.

The agency will receive assistance from enlisted key local employer groups to promote the campaign.

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says the Dandenong region is home to thousands of businesses and is a continual source of workers requesting assistance.

She says one of the campaign's aims is to ensure employers are aware of their workplace responsibilities and how the agency can assist them to build a culture of compliance.

"It's important we check that workers are being paid correctly, but we also want to be proactive about ensuring employers understand their obligations," says James.

"Inspectors will make face-to-face visits to dozens of businesses during the campaign, so they can offer employers tailored assistance to rectify any non-compliance issues and put processes in place to ensure they get it right in the future."

Inspectors will be informing employers about the range of free tolls and resources available to them on the Fair Work Ombudsman's website.