Judge sends ‘message’ to media industry with $270,000 fine for underpaying interns
An Australian-based Chinese language media firm has been fined more than $270,000 for exploiting an international student intern by requiring her to do 180 hours of unpaid work in four months.
Handing down the fine to AIMB BQ, a part of Chinese language media firm Ostar International Media Group, Judge Tom Altobelli said he wanted to send a “serious message” to companies not to disguise unpaid internships as employment.
It is the second time a media company owned by Zhao Qing Jiang has been found to have breached Fair Work rules, with 3CW Chinese Language Radio in Melbourne determined to have underpaid two people by around $60,000 in 2013.
