"[This is] to ensure that, as far as is possible, wage theft cannot occur again and for enhanced education and training for franchisees in relation to their responsibilities in this regard," the company said in a statement. "The settlement of the class actions for $98 million is without admission of fault, liability or wrongdoing." 7-Eleven Stores chief executive Angus McKay said the company "is pleased this matter has reached an acceptable resolution". ''We are seeing the positive results of the significant efforts we have made together with our franchise network," he said. "We intend to continue to adapt and improve and look forward to continuing to provide great products and service to our customers in Australia." 'Unequal and exploitative system' Class action lawyer Stewart Levitt said, unfortunately, the issues with unprofitable franchise networks were not limited to 7-Eleven. A parliamentary inquiry, in part triggered by the 7-Eleven revelations, found in 2019 that the entire franchise sector required drastic and immediate overhaul. "The way in which so many franchise models are structured, particularly in the food industry, involve franchisees paying a large amount of money often borrowed to buy into a franchise," Mr Levitt said. "And then they have no control over how it operates. "The [head company] imposes huge cost expenses over [their franchisees] which don't affect its own profit line. "It's a very unequal and exploitative system which has continued to prevail in the industry."