Region. Toys'R'Us underpaid workers

The FairWork Ombudsman has found national toy retailer Toys'R'Us underpaid more than 700 employees for various periods between 2007 and 2009. Most were casual staff aged under 25 - many teenagers - in its Parramatta, Penrith, Bankstown, Castle Hill, Liverpool and Campbelltown stores in the region, and others elsewhere in NSW. Documents lodged in court said the toy giant failed to back-pay staff in the required time, despite repeated requests, with some employees waiting nine months for their cheques. If found guilty the company faces fines totalling up to $660,000 for more than 20 alleged breaches of workplace laws. Toys'R'Us refused to comment on the case yesterday, according to The Daily Telegraph. The company reimbursed workers a total of $445,000 in March 2009. The case is listed for a directions hearing on February 1.