A line's being drawn in the sand over service station and supermarket practices towards their employees.

Gull has been under scrutiny over the past week after it emerged one of its stations had been docking staff wages when customers drove off without paying for petrol.

Some supermarkets have also been in the gun for docking staff wages when customers have stolen goods

Michael Woodhouse, Minister for Workplace Relations, is critical of the practice.

"I'm advised it is certain to be unlawful to my mind it is absolutely unacceptable."