Inspectors from the Fair Work Ombudsman will visit two shopping centres on the NSW Central Coast to educate employers about workplace laws ahead of an auditing campaign next month.

Fair Work Inspectors will visit about 30 independently owned and operated retail and fast food outlets at Bateau Bay Square and the Lake Haven Shopping Centre next week.

Inspectors will discuss with employers steps they can take to ensure they are paying employees minimum pay rates of pay and provide fact sheets and templates for time and wages records before returning at the end of October to audit 20 random businesses.

Inspectors will check employers are paying employees their full lawful entitlements, including minimum hourly rates and penalty rates, and complying with record keeping and pay slip laws.

Senior Fair Work Inspector, Evan Brownell, said next week’s educational visits provide employers with an opportunity to ensure they fully understand their responsibilities under workplace laws.

“We want to make sure employers have all the information they need to comply with minimum pay rates, conditions and their record-keeping obligations,” Brownell said.

Brownell said the Central Coast region is being focused on because it has been the source of a steady stream of complaints in recent years, with many coming from employees in the retail and fast food industries.

“We hope the educational visits and audits will increase employers’ awareness of their obligations and help to prevent some of the issues that lead to complaints,” he said.