ALDI $55.2 Million Class Action Settlement Approved, Who Qualifies and When Will Workers Get Paid?

ALDI Foods Pty Ltd must compensate eligible current and former Australian employees under a Federal Court of Australia settlement over unpaid work before and after rostered shifts. On October 23, 2026, Justice McElwaine approved the settlement in Boi v Aldi Foods Pty Ltd [2026] FCA 1576. The union that brought the case, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA), estimates ALDI’s total remediation liability at about AU$55.2 million for roughly 32,300 current and former store and warehouse workers.

Official settlement website and registration page: the SDA’s ALDI Class Action page. Claim form: there is no claim form to submit. Current employees do not need to register yet, and former employees must register through a portal that had not opened as of October 26, 2026.

The AU$55.2 million is not all new money. The estimate includes about AU$28.9 million ALDI already paid under an earlier voluntary remediation program, about AU$16.3 million in additional payments under the settlement, and about AU$10 million in interest. No legal costs or litigation funding commissions are deducted from workers’ payments.

The court has ordered ALDI to complete payments by March 31, 2027, or before the proceedings are dismissed if that is later. That is a payment deadline under the court’s orders, not a deadline for submitting a claim.

This is an Australian Federal Court representative proceeding (the Australian form of a class action), brought under Australian workplace law. It is not a U.S. case and does not cover U.S. ALDI employees.

Quick Facts: ALDI Foods Worker Class Action Settlement

Detail	Information
Case name	Boi v Aldi Foods Pty Ltd
Court	Federal Court of Australia, Victoria Registry
Case number	VID 898 of 2023
Published judgment	[2026] FCA 1576
Related proceeding	VID 899 of 2023 (SDA civil penalty proceeding)
Settlement approval date	October 23, 2026
Defendant	ALDI Foods Pty Ltd
Lead applicants	Kelly Roslyn Boi, Souad Tannous Lichaa and Harinder Pal
Supporting union	Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA)
Estimated total remediation liability	About AU$55.2 million, including earlier payments and interest
Earlier voluntary payments	About AU$28.9 million
Group size	About 32,300 current and former workers
Store employee eligibility period	October 27, 2017 to March 23, 2023
Warehouse employee eligibility period	October 27, 2017 to October 30, 2022
Main legal issue	Alleged failure to pay for required work before and after rostered shifts
Official settlement website	sda.au/campaigns/aldi-class-action
Claim form	None. Current employees do not register yet; the former-employee portal had not opened as of October 26, 2026
Payment deadline	March 31, 2027, or before dismissal if the proceedings are dismissed later
Deductions from workers	None for legal costs or funding commissions
Administrator	ALDI, under the court-approved Settlement Distribution Scheme

What the ALDI Class Action Alleged About Unpaid Work

The claim was straightforward: employees should be paid for work they are required to do, even when it falls outside their rostered hours. The applicants alleged that ALDI breached section 50 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), which prohibits contravening a term of an enterprise agreement, by not paying the required wages and benefits for that work. Related entitlements such as loadings, penalty rates, allowances and superannuation were also alleged to be unpaid.

Store employees: the claims concerned required work before scheduled shifts and after them.

Warehouse employees: the claims concerned work before rostered shifts. The calculation method differs from the store method, and a warehouse employee must have been identified as doing relevant pre-commencement tasks to receive a payment.

ALDI denied the allegations and settled without admitting liability. The court’s approval is not a trial verdict that every allegation was proven.

Why work before a scheduled shift can count as paid work

A rostered start time is not necessarily the only time that counts for wages. If an employee is required to do tasks before the official start, such as required preparation duties, the legal question is whether that is work that must be paid under the law and the governing enterprise agreement. The answer depends on the circumstances and the agreement.

How the ALDI Underpayment Dispute Developed From 2022 to 2026

Date	Development
2022	Earlier proceedings concerning warehouse workers at ALDI’s Prestons Distribution Centre found certain pre-shift duties were paid work
2022–2023	ALDI ran a voluntary remediation program, eventually paying about AU$28.9 million
October 2023	The SDA started the national representative proceeding and a parallel civil penalty proceeding after identifying gaps in the earlier program, including former employees who had not been paid
February 2024	The court considered ALDI’s strike-out application and directed the parties toward mediation
July 2026	A proposed settlement and group-member notice set out eligibility periods, the payment method and members’ rights
August 12, 2026	The opt-out and objection deadline passed at 4 p.m.
October 9, 2026	Settlement approval hearing
October 23, 2026	The Federal Court approved the settlement
March 31, 2027	Payment deadline under the court’s orders

Why the court approved the settlement

Justice McElwaine found the settlement fair and reasonable under section 33V of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth). He noted that a contested trial would not have started until about mid-2028 and could have cost about AU$18 million. Of roughly 32,300 group members, only 17 opted out and one objected, and the lead applicants receive an additional AU$10,000 each, paid outside the settlement pool, for their role. A separate AU$1.5 million contribution toward the SDA’s costs was paid through the parallel penalty proceeding.

What the earlier warehouse ruling meant for ALDI

The earlier proceedings found that certain pre-shift duties at the Prestons warehouse were work rather than mere preparation to work, which led to payments for those duties. The later class action was broader. It covered store and warehouse employees, including former workers the earlier program had not necessarily reached. The two stages should not be confused: the earlier ruling addressed specific duties, while the 2026 settlement resolved the later claims through an agreed distribution scheme.

Which ALDI Employees May Qualify for Settlement Payments?

Eligibility depends on where and when a person worked and whether they were properly paid for the work at issue. Falling within a date range does not guarantee a payment.

Store employees: October 27, 2017 to March 23, 2023

People employed by ALDI in an Australian store at any time in this period may be covered, including relevant store assistants and salaried store employees, subject to the scheme’s rules. Payments may include amounts for pre-shift and post-shift work, superannuation where applicable, and interest.

Warehouse employees: October 27, 2017 to October 30, 2022

People employed in an Australian ALDI warehouse in this period may be covered for pre-shift work only. The court notice says warehouse employees ALDI has not identified as doing relevant pre-commencement tasks will not receive a payment under the scheme.

Store managers and assistant store managers: important exclusions

The court notice says store managers and assistant store managers will not receive further compensation if their time-in-lieu accruals were already adjusted or paid out to reflect differences between recorded clock times and rostered start and finish times between March 20, 2017 and March 23, 2023. Job title and dates are not the only factors, because earlier payments or adjustments can affect eligibility and the amount.

Related article: Nature Made Prenatal Lawsuit, Case Dismissed in 2026, No Settlement or Claim Form

How Much Could Each ALDI Worker Receive?

There is no single payment amount for everyone. The distribution scheme calculates each person’s entitlement using their role, relevant shifts, the unpaid time recorded before or after rostered shifts, and payments already made. Two employees in similar jobs can receive different amounts. Do not divide the headline figure by the number of workers, because it includes earlier payments and interest.

How previous ALDI payments affect the new settlement

Some eligible workers received an earlier payment and may be owed only a top-up, while others received nothing before. The settlement notice also explains that some payments for periods outside the claim period can affect the interest calculation. ALDI holds the employment and payment records and has been appointed to administer the scheme and calculate entitlements.

Will legal fees be deducted from worker payments?

No. The Federal Court’s judgment summary says the settlement was approved with no deduction for litigation funder commission or legal costs from group members’ compensation, and the SDA says its funding costs are handled separately. That does not mean every worker gets the same amount. For background on how fees usually work in group litigation, see our guide on whether you have to pay to join a class action lawsuit.

How to Register for the ALDI Worker Settlement

What you need to do depends on whether you still work for ALDI. As of October 26, 2026, the former-employee registration portal had not opened, and the SDA says workers do not need to provide banking or superannuation details yet.

1. Check your role and dates. Confirm you worked in an Australian ALDI store or warehouse within the relevant period, and remember that dates alone do not decide the payment.
2. Current employees: do not register yet. According to the SDA, no registration is needed at this stage. Keep rosters, payslips and records of any earlier remediation payment.
3. Former employees: watch for the portal. Former employees will need to register once ALDI’s portal opens, and the SDA says it will publish instructions. Use only the official SDA page and do not give personal details to any unconfirmed site.
4. Check your calculation. When ALDI gives you an assessment, compare it with your records and the scheme terms, and use the review arrangements in the settlement documents if you need to challenge it.

Be cautious about any message or website promising a faster payout or asking for payment details before the official process opens.

What Happened to the Opt-Out and Objection Deadline?

The group-member notice set a deadline of 4 p.m. on August 12, 2026 to opt out or object, and that deadline has passed. The court approved the settlement on October 23, 2026, and group members who did not opt out are generally bound by it for the claims it resolves. They cannot usually bring another claim for the same unpaid work after receiving, or becoming entitled to, a settlement payment.

A person who opted out on time is not entitled to compensation under this scheme, although a separate claim may be possible depending on the circumstances and the law. No new opt-out or objection period has been identified since approval. Anyone with a question about an earlier opt-out, an objection or a disputed eligibility decision should check the official documents and consider independent legal advice.

What Australian Laws Were Relevant to the ALDI Settlement?

Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), section 50: enterprise agreement breaches

Section 50 prohibits contravening a term of an enterprise agreement. The applicants alleged ALDI did not comply with agreement terms requiring proper pay and benefits for relevant work outside rostered shifts. The case settled before a trial decided every allegation.

Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), section 323: paying amounts owing

Section 323 generally requires an employer to pay amounts owing to an employee for performing work. It was relevant to the wider unpaid-wages dispute, but the approved settlement is not a ruling that every employee’s claim under it was individually proven.

Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), Part IVA and section 33V

Part IVA governs representative proceedings, and section 33V requires court approval of a settlement as fair and reasonable for group members. Approval means the settlement is no longer just a proposal. The remaining work is identifying recipients, calculating amounts and paying them.

What Happens Next in the ALDI Settlement?

The settlement is approved, but distribution is still under way. The next steps are expected to include opening the former-employee registration process, identifying eligible employees, calculating entitlements and paying them under the approved scheme, with the March 31, 2027 payment deadline under the court’s orders.

Former employees should watch the official SDA page for instructions, and current employees do not need to register yet. No one should assume every worker will be paid the same amount.

For another wage case, see Dollar Tree class action lawsuit over Colorado wage theft claims, a separate U.S. dispute with different rules, and the Fontaine Modification $1.6 million employee wage class action settlement.

Frequently Asked Questions About the ALDI $55.2 Million Settlement

Has the ALDI $55.2 million settlement been approved?

Yes. The Federal Court of Australia approved it on October 23, 2026, in Boi v Aldi Foods Pty Ltd [2026] FCA 1576. The AU$55.2 million is the estimated total liability, including earlier payments and interest.

Is ALDI paying AU$55.2 million in new checks?

No. The figure includes about AU$28.9 million already paid under the earlier program. Further payments are calculated individually under the approved scheme.

Is this a U.S. class action?

No. It is an Australian Federal Court representative proceeding under Australian law, and it does not cover U.S. ALDI employees.

Who qualifies for the ALDI worker settlement?

Store employees who worked in Australia between October 27, 2017 and March 23, 2023, and warehouse employees who worked there between October 27, 2017 and October 30, 2022, subject to the scheme’s conditions and exclusions.

Do current ALDI employees need to register?

Not at this stage, according to the SDA. Former employees will need to register when ALDI’s portal opens.

Is there a claim form available now?

No. The former-employee registration portal had not opened as of October 26, 2026. Check the official SDA page for updates.

When will ALDI pay the settlement money?

The court’s orders require payment by March 31, 2027, or before the proceedings are dismissed if that is later.

How much will each ALDI employee receive?

It depends on the person’s role, shifts, recorded unpaid time, any earlier payment and the scheme’s calculation rules. There is no uniform amount.

Will attorney fees be deducted from my payment?

No. The court approved the settlement with no deduction for legal costs or litigation funding commissions.

Can an ALDI employee opt out now?

No. The opt-out deadline was 4 p.m. on August 12, 2026, and no new deadline has been identified since approval.

Does the settlement prove every allegation was true?

No. ALDI denied the allegations and settled without admitting liability, and the court approved the settlement without a trial.

Sources and Legal References

1. Federal Court of Australia: Boi v Aldi Foods Pty Ltd [2026] FCA 1576, judgment of October 23, 2026
2. Federal Court of Australia: case record, Kelly Roslyn Boi & Ors v Aldi Foods Pty Ltd, VID898/2023
3. SDA: ALDI Class Action official settlement and registration updates
4. Court-approved group-member notice, issued before final approval (PDF)
5. Federal Register of Legislation: Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)
6. Federal Register of Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth)

Legal disclaimer: This article explains public court records, settlement eligibility and Australian workplace law for general information only. It is not legal advice. Registration steps and dates may change, so confirm them on the official SDA page. AllAboutLawyer.com is a legal information website, not a law firm.