Fair Work Ombudsman Records Surge in Anonymous Reports
The regulator logged 31,596 anonymous worker reports in 2025-26 and back-payments rose 27 per cent to $453 million.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Employment
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The Fair Work Ombudsman received 31,596 anonymous reports in the 2025-26 financial year, up 23 per cent from 25,608 the prior year. More than 181,000 workers were back-paid a combined $453 million in underpaid wages.
Why it matters
The rise in reports and back-payments points to ongoing wage underpayment across Australian workplaces, with recovered amounts reaching close to $2.5 billion over the last six financial years. The figures show how enforcement activity is being pursued across sectors including large corporates, hospitality and construction.
The Fair Work Ombudsman's 2025-26 figures show 31,596 anonymous reports, up 23 per cent, and $453 million in back-payments to more than 181,000 workers, up roughly $95 million on the prior year. The extraction does not indicate how many reports were substantiated or how much of the back-pay has yet to be collected.
The players
Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman is Australia's national workplace regulator, responsible for enforcing the Fair Work Act and recovering underpaid wages.
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales is a public research university in Sydney that was penalised $213,120 by the regulator.
The details
Large corporates accounted for $217.3 million of total back-payments, covering more than 110,000 workers. The regulator finalised 15 Enforceable Undertakings recovering $106.6 million, recovered more than $5.6 million for 3,538 fast food, restaurant and cafe workers, and secured $2.3 million in penalties from 60 litigations.
Timeline
The figures cover the 2025-26 financial year.
Construction back-payment tracking began in November 2022.
Big Picture
The enforcement figures extend the regulator's activity under the Fair Work Act 2009, with recoveries now close to $2.5 billion across six financial years. The rise in anonymous reports suggests workers are increasingly using the Ombudsman's confidential channel to raise underpayment concerns.
Workers who believe they have been underpaid can lodge a report with the Fair Work Ombudsman, including anonymously, to seek recovery of unpaid wages. The regulator's recoveries show that back-pay claims across hospitality, construction and corporate employment are actively being pursued.
The takeaway
Workers who suspect underpayment can report it, including anonymously, and seek recovery of unpaid wages through the regulator. Employers should review their pay records against award and entitlement obligations.
Further reading
Explore more on Employment news and wage enforcement across Australia.
More information
Workers seeking general advice can contact the Fair Work Ombudsman directly.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dynamic Business.
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