STAFF REPORTER

The Fair Work Ombudsman is prosecuting the operator of a Perth business for allegedly sacking a 16-year-old because the boy’s mother queried his pay.

Facing court are Port Kennedy man Stephen Ashley and his Willetton-based company West Coast Propellers Pty Ltd, which repairs, services and sells aeroplane propellers.

Mr Ashley allegedly hired the teenager in November, 2010 and told him he would be paid $5.32 an hour.

Court documents claim the boy’s mother contacted the Fair Work Infoline and received advice that the pay rate should be more than $7 an hour.

On her son’s behalf, the woman met Mr Ashley during her son’s first week at work to query the pay rate he had been offered.

After the meeting, Mr Ashley allegedly told the boy not to come to work until the matter was resolved – and then wrote to him telling him he was no longer employed.

Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson says a decision to prosecute was made because the dismissal allegedly constituted a serious breach of workplace law.

“Under the Fair Work Act, it is unlawful to dismiss or take any other adverse action against an employee for exercising a workplace right, such as querying or complaining about pay rates,” Mr Wilson said.

Mr Ashley was allegedly involved in his company committing two breaches of workplace law. The maximum potential penalty per breach is $6600 for Mr Ashley and $33,000 for West Coast Propellers.

The case is listed for July 10 in the Federal Magistrates Court in Perth.