Over three in 10 Ballarat workers are losing thousands of dollars on average each year in unpaid superannuation according to a recent Industry Super Australia report.
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The report analysed Australian Tax Office (ATO) data from 2016-17, which revealed Victorians had lost $1.4 billion in unpaid super, which can have a huge effect on retirement savings.
Ballarat was the second hardest region hit within those findings only behind Melbourne, with around 15,600 workers having had more than $22.55 million lost across Wendouree and Buninyong.
Secretary at the Regional Trades and Labour Council, Brett Edgington, said these findings are not surprising to see in the region.
"It doesn't surprise me," he said.
"I think there are a number of reasons it can be more prevalent in Ballarat. The fair work ombudsman doesn't do enough inspections in regional Victoria... there isn't a regular presence throughout the region."
Mr Edgington said he is currently aware of many businesses in Ballarat which are avoiding paying its staff superannuation.
"Just from personal experience I know staff at a Ballarat accommodation provider that haven't been paid super in two years," he said.
"There can be small businesses that don't pay super along with big businesses that do all they can to not comply."
He urged workers in the region to regularly check their superannuation contributions and to contact the ATO if there are any discrepancies.
"The most important thing for employees is to regularly check their superannuation balance to check that it's been going in," he added.
"If for some reason they find contributions haven't been going in contact the ATO... it can take some time but they are very good at chasing it up."
While the issue isn't restricted to one industry, Mr Edgington said small businesses can be more likely to avoid payments.
"It can be more likely to take place in small businesses such as in trades where you might have a boss with a couple of apprentices or workers."
The impacts working for long periods without a consistent superannuation contribution can be dramatic according to Mr Edgington, who shared his experiences with a woman who unfortunately didn't realise until it was too late.
"A few years ago I met an older woman who had worked in retail all of her life in a small business... when she retired at 65 she found out she had never been paid any super, she was going to be homeless. She had been robbed of potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars."
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