Seasoned restauranteur and MasterChef judge George Calombaris has spoken out against staff penalty rates this week, sparking controversy about how much casual staff should be paid on weekends and public holidays. In an exclusive interview with The Power Index, Calombaris complained that his new restaurant Mama Baba would have to pay staff, ”$40 an hour on Sundays … and it’s not like they’ve had to go to uni for 15 years.”
However the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has hit back at the remarks, with Secretary Jeff Lawrence saying to The Age that ”It’s disappointing that he has used his public profile to spread inaccurate hyperbole about the pay rates of some of Australia’s lowest paid workers, seemingly to garner public sympathy.”
Mr Lawrence also said that the multi-millionnaire has over estimated the costs he will have to pay.
“Mr Calombaris’ claim that waiters must be paid $40 an hour on Sundays is incorrect, with the maximum wage for a casual waiter more like $30 an hour,” he said.
What do you think? Is George right? Are casual staff rates bleeding businesses dry? Or should those willing to work on the weekends and forfeit family time get paid for it? Let us know.