Shepparton business charged with breaches of child employment laws

By Monique Preston

May 16, 2023

Court date: G and K Pearse Pty Ltd, trading as Cold Rock Shepparton, will face 124 charges. Photo by Megan Fisher

A Shepparton business will face criminal charges in the magistrates’ court over alleged breaches of the state’s child employment laws.

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Wage Inspectorate Victoria, the state’s child employment watchdog, has filed 124 charges against G and K Pearse Pty Ltd, trading as Cold Rock Shepparton, relating to the employment of six children.

The charges allege the ice creamery breached the act by employing children for more hours than they are permitted to work, employing children later than 9pm, and failing to provide a rest break of at least 30 minutes after every three hours of work.

The matter has been listed for mention in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 1.

Victoria’s child employment laws require employers of children under 15 to obtain a permit from the Wage Inspectorate before any work takes place.

This enables the Wage Inspectorate to check that matters such as safety, hours of work, rest breaks and supervision are properly considered before employment starts.

Child employment laws restrict when businesses can employ children and how long they can work.

During a school term, children can be employed for a maximum of three hours a day and 12 hours a week, while during school holidays, children can be employed up to six hours a day and 30 hours a week.

Children can only work between 6am and 9pm, and must also receive a 30-minute rest break after every three hours of work.