Three quarters (14,500) of employers subjected to an ATO compliance tests in 2020/21 had stolen superannuation from workers, according to figures tabled by the ATO in Senate Estimates today.

Unpaid super is a symptom of Australia’s insecure work crisis, with young workers and those on low wages or working in industries including construction, transport, and hospitality the most likely to be unpaid.

More than $5 billion in super is stolen from workers every year.

The Government’s weak-willed attempts to paper over this problem, including an amnesty for dodgy employers, have failed.

The ACTU calls on the Morrison Government to make super a fundamental workplace right in the National Employment Standards (NES) so that workers can finally enforce the right to their superannuation entitlements rather than hope the ATO does something; and legislate that super is paid at the same time as wages for all workers.

Quotes attributable to ACTU Assistant Secretary Scott Connolly:

“Insecure work has worsened the unpaid super crisis with young workers, and those in hospitality, construction and transport the most likely to go unpaid.

“Women’s super is in crisis and older women are the fastest growing group of homeless Australians and retire with half the amount of super as men. To close the gap, super must be paid at the same time as wages, be paid on parental leave, and super must become a fundamental workplace right in the NES so that workers can enforce their rights to their entitlements.

“Over $5 billion will continue to be stolen from workers every year unless the Morrison Government ensures that every worker is paid super at the same time as wages.

“Three quarters of employers tested by the ATO were found to be stealing super, and they’ve done it because the Morrison Government doesn’t take the crisis of insecure work seriously.”