The University of Wollongong (UOW) has been ordered by Australia's workplace regulator to repay more than $6 million to thousands of staff it underpaid over the past decade.

In addition, it will be required to make a Commonwealth contrition payment of $130,000 and implement a range of mitigation measures.

The payments form part of a legally binding agreement with the Fair Work Ombudsman known as an enforceable undertaking (EU).

Decade-long issue

In 2023 UOW reported itself to the ombudsman after staff raised questions about their pay.

Investigations found 5,340 current and former employees, mostly in casual non-teaching roles, had been underpaid wages and superannuation amounting to $6.6 million between 2014 and 2024.

Ombudsman Anna Booth said UOW underpaid employees' weekend penalty

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