The Fair Work Ombudsman will audit up to 200 food businesses across south-west victoria as part of a new compliance campaign.

Running across a three-month period, the campaign will focus on businesses in Warrnambool, Colac and Camperdown, and will see inspectors checking employers are paying the correct hourly rates, as well as penalty rates, allowances and loadings.

According to Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James, requests for assistance in the region jumped 27 per cent between 2011 and 2014.