Mining giant BPH has been penalised more than $80,000 for forcing workers to work over Christmas without penalty rates.

It comes six years after 85 miners were told they would have to work at a central Queensland mine on Christmas and Boxing Day with no special rates to be paid.

The workers described feeling "shattered" and "racked with guilt" for having to leave their families on the days, according to court documents.

The Mining and Energy Union filed the court case on behalf of the workers from BHP's labour hire arm, Operation Services, who were employed at Daunia mine near Moranbah.

The case was dismissed by Federal Court Justice Darryl Rangiah in February 2022.

The union appealed the dismissal and was successful in March 2023, with it set down for remedy and penalty.

A hearing w

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