A Queensland labour-hire company has been found guilty of ripping off seasonal workers from Vanuatu.
ABC reports the Fair Work Ombudsman took legal action in the Federal Circuit Court against Emmanuel Bani and his company, Maroochy Sunshine, in November last year.
Bani had recruited 22 workers from Vanuatu under the Federal Government's seasonal workers scheme but did not pay them a proper wage or give them enough work.
They worked picking fruit and vegetables in the Lockyer Valley, Sunshine Coast and Bundaberg.
According to the Ombudsman, more than half the workers were not paid at all and have since returned to Vanuatu.
Bani has failed to turn up to multiple court appearances, and so was found to be in breach of employment laws by default.
The court has adjourned the matter until June, when it will decide what penalty to impose.
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie Jones said government inspectors had met Mr Bani five days before the 22 workers arrived from Vanuatu to remind him of the need to pay employees' wages.