Fair Work inspectors raided a number of businesses across the region in March last year after Fairfax Media exposed the widespread underpayment – and, in some cases, non-payment – of university students.

The Fairfax investigation into the underpayment of workers aged 18 to 24 – published in late 2016 – uncovered exploitation in cafes, restaurants, retail outlets and take-away shops.

The final report from the FWO is due to be released by the year’s end.

However, a preliminary glimpse of the results have been provided to NSW Labor Leader Luke Foley, who wrote to the FWO earlier this year asking for an update on its findings.

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In a letter to Mr Foley, seen by the Mercury, acting Fair Work Ombudsman Kristen Hannah said the agency was due to release the final report on its “Wollongong Regional Response Campaign” in the second half of 2018.

A number of investigations linked to the Illawarra raids were ongoing, Ms Hannah said.

The FWO releases the results of its campaigns in their entirety as part of a final published report, “so as not to compromise the outcome of investigations”, she said.

However, Ms Hannah said the agency had conducted close to 100 separate audits, which revealed incidents of non-compliance with minimum pay entitlements and payslip and record-keeping requirements.

A list of compliance outcomes will be released with the report.

Ms Hannah said the Wollongong probe would also “feed into” another major program, the National Compliance Monitoring Campaign (NCMC).

All Illawarra employers found to have contravened workplace laws will be revisited as part of the NCMC, she said.

A FWO spokesman said: “While most employers do the right thing, these cases underline the need for businesses to make sure their employees are receiving their full entitlements.”

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