A Canberra scaffolding company could be fined more than $350,000 for allegedly underpaying workers.
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But MPR Scaffolding has denied the allegations and its director, Petar Josifoski, said the claims had been timed to discredit him ahead of his appearance before the royal commission this week.
A Federal Circuit Court case brought by the CFMEU alleges MPR Scaffolding and Mr Josifoski underpaid the wages and entitlements of up to 13 employees by $65,716.52.
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union alleged the scaffolding company underpaid some of its employees about $43,446.52 in wages and entitlements, and $22,270 in redundancy payments in 2013 and 2014.
The construction union also claimed that the company did not produce employee records when required and breached an enterprise agreement's terms and conditions.
The offences carry maximum penalties of $51,000 per breach for a company and $10,200 for an individual.
Mr Josifoski said he would fight the claims in court and had instructed his solicitors to investigate filing a counterclaim against the union in response.
He claimed the timing of the case, which was filed earlier this month, had been calculated to discredit or distract him as he prepared for his appearance before the royal commission into trade union governance and corruption – which is sitting in Canberra – this week.
Mr Josifoski hinted aspects of the lawsuit could be examined during his evidence before the royal commission.
"I can't really say too much because I'm going before the royal commission [this week]," he said.
CFMEU ACT branch secretary Dean Hall said the territory's workers had a long history of being ripped off by unscrupulous employers.
Mr Hall said the case highlighted potentially hundreds-of-thousands of dollars in lost entitlements to Canberra construction workers.
"Any construction boss who won't pay their employees properly won't look after their safety either," Mr Hall said.
"Unfortunately, the royal commission will focus on lies and mistruths surrounding the CFMEU, while workers in the construction industry are being short-changed by construction companies doing the wrong thing."
