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Gordon Legal files competing KFC class action

Another class action has been filed against fast food giant KFC for the alleged underpayment of up to 100,000 past and present employees.

user iconLauren Croft 26 October 2023 Big Law
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Tens of thousands of Australian team members, many under 18 years old, allegedly faced wage exploitation while working at the global organisation 12 months ago, culminating in the commencement of a class action today.

Gordon Legal filed the class action in a bid to reclaim unpaid wages for up to 100,000 KFC past and present workers. It is alleged that over the past six years, the fast-food chain, which employs over 40,000 people, failed to provide its staff with paid rest breaks.

This news closely follows a similar class action launched by Shine launched this week (26 October).

Gordon Legal estimated that if the claim is successful, thousands of current and former KFC employees will be eligible for compensation, which may result in the total claims value being in the tens of millions of dollars.

“The Colonel’s 11 herbs and spices might be a secret, but Fair Work regulations are not. KFC took advantage of individuals who are often at the start of their careers, and they either don’t know their entitlements or are afraid to speak out,” partner Andrew Grech said.

In a joint statement, the representative applicants Neel Kashap and Roshanpal Singh said: “We were both young and inexperienced when we started at KFC and feel disappointed that our inexperience was taken advantage of.”

KFC and its franchisees are subject to the KFC National Enterprise Agreement (2020, 2010, and 2009) and the Fast Food Industry Award.

Anyone who worked at KFC from 25 October 2017 until now could be eligible for the class action, and the firm urged further applicants to come forward.

Lauren Croft

Lauren Croft

Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.

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