The Fair Work Commission has accepted a proposal by the Restaurant and Catering Association (RCA) that aims to simplify the payment of chefs. It comes in the wake of a number of underpayment scandals at fine food restaurants which the restaurant sector has blamed on the complexity of wage payment systems.
The new pay deal will see chefs given the option of being paid a flat rate of least $82,400 for up to 57 hours of work a week, in return for trading away overtime, penalty rates, and allowances.
Association CEO Wes Lambert has described the new pay scheme as “revolutionary”, and will help the sector recover from the impact of the pandemic:
