Australian bosses could go to jail for up to 10 years and be slapped with a $1.65 million fine if they "deliberately" underpay their workers, as part of new laws that take effect on January 1.

Australian bosses could go to jail for 10 years and be fined $1.65 million if they “deliberately” underpay their workers, as part of new laws that nationally criminalise wage theft from January 1.

The new laws and penalties follow years of underpayment scandals in Australia, with cases at prominent employers including Woolworths, Chatime, Qantas, NAB, BHP, 7-Eleven and the ABC.