Former contractor faces court for alleged payment breaches

The former owner-operator of an electrical services company in Sydney’s Bankstown is the subject of legal action initiated by the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO).

Hassan Korkomaz is alleged to have underpaid two young electrical workers who were employed on a casual basis at his former business, Electro Power Group Pty Ltd.

After the FWO received requests for assistance from the two workers, a Fair Work Inspector issued a Compliance Notice to Korkomaz’s company in October 2023 regarding alleged underpayment of one of the workers for four weeks in May–June, 2023. The worker was aged 20 at the time.

The inspector formed a belief the company had paid the worker less than 15% of the combined casual minimum wages and overtime entitlements the worker was entitled to under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020.

Subsequent to the issuing of the Compliance Notice, the FWO is further alleging that Korkomaz was involved in his company, without a reasonable excuse, failing to comply with the Notice, which required the calculation and back-payment of the worker’s outstanding minimum entitlements.

It is alleged the total amount the company was required to pay the worker to comply with the Compliance Notice was $7855.

The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges that Korkomaz was also involved in underpayment contraventions in relation to the other worker, who was aged 18 when Korkomaz’s company employed him for two days in 2025.

It is alleged the company paid the worker nothing for the work he performed on the basis that it was an ‘unpaid trial’. The FWO alleges that worker was entitled, under the same Award, to be paid $674 in casual minimum wages and overtime entitlements.

The company went into liquidation in 2025.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said business operators allegedly involved in breaching workplace laws need to be aware that they can be pursued in court even in circumstances where their company has been wound up.

“Employers need to be aware that taking action to protect potentially vulnerable workers, including young workers, is among our top priorities,” Booth said.

“We are prepared to take court action to hold individuals to account if we allege they are involved in breaches.

“Any employees with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact us for free advice and assistance. They can also contact their union if they are a member.”

A directions hearing for the case is listed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court in Sydney on 5 August 2026.

Korkomaz faces penalties in court of up to $9390 for the alleged involvement in the Compliance Notice breach and up to $18,780 per contravention for the alleged involvement in the underpayment of the 18-year-old worker.

The FWO will seek a court order that any penalties imposed against Korkomaz be distributed to the two affected workers to rectify the alleged underpayments.

In the two years to June 2025, the FWO filed 88 litigations involving an alleged accessory, and secured total penalties of $5,143,749 against accessories across the same timeframe.

In 2024–25, the FWO secured total court penalties of more than $870,000 for failures to comply with Compliance Notices.

The FWO provides a free online course to help employers understand what a Compliance Notice is and how to respond if they get one. The Compliance Notice course is available in its online learning centre.

Information is also available for employees and employers at the FWO’s young workers and students and apprentices webpages.

Image credit: iStock.com/Davizro