Phoinike

Main Menu

  • Albania Real Estate
  • Albania Lending
  • Albania Credit
  • Albania Economy
  • Loans

Phoinike

Header Banner

Phoinike

  • Albania Real Estate
  • Albania Lending
  • Albania Credit
  • Albania Economy
  • Loans
Loans
Home›Loans›Labor hire companies leave workers $100 a week after inappropriate deductions, minister says

Labor hire companies leave workers $100 a week after inappropriate deductions, minister says

By Blake G. Keller
March 19, 2022
0
0

The federal agriculture minister has hit out at labor hire companies that leave foreign workers with just $100 a week.

Key points:

  • David LIttleproud says it’s not appropriate for workers to end up with $100 a week after employer deductions
  • A major labor hire company told an investigation it made hundreds of dollars in deductions to recover costs
  • Federal Opposition Says Labor Hiring System Must Change

David Littleproud said it was not appropriate for workers to end up with such a small take-home pay after their employer made deductions for things like accommodation, transport and visas.

“There is a small cohort in agriculture, like in all industries, that is doing the wrong thing that is cutting corners,” he said.

“Our job is to eliminate them and remove them from the industry.

“And we’re doing that with increased regulation on labor hire companies and increasing penalties to make sure that if they do the wrong thing, we’ll take them out.”

David Littleproud says the government is increasing penalties for companies that mistreat workers.(ABC Sunshine Coast: Jacqui St.)

Mr Littleproud was asked about the deductions after a Senate inquiry heard that one of Australia’s largest labor hire companies had made hundreds of dollars in deductions from paychecks weeklies of Pacific workers.

The investigation was also told that during certain weeks some workers employed by MADEC ended up with $100 after deductions.

MADEC is a not-for-profit, accredited employer under the federal government’s Pacific Worker Program.

Its chief executive, Laurence Burt, told the inquiry that weekly deductions were made to recover several costs.

“In the first 10 weeks after a person arrives in Australia under the Seasonal Worker Scheme, they go through a process of paying for international airfare, visa fees, advance payment in cash and other expenses upon arrival…

“It spread out over the first few weeks of engagement and recovered on a weekly basis.

“In addition to this, there are weekly living expenses such as housing, transport and health insurance which are also recovered from workers’ wages each week by their approved employer as well.”

Burt also spoke of two farmhands who between them averaged $390 take-home pay a week for their first 12 weeks on the job.

“Which is well beyond the target net benefit that was set out in the letter of offer the workers accepted before leaving Samoa.”

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to search, up and down arrows for volume.
Play the video.  Duration: 2 minutes 23 seconds

‘Slavery is not over’: calls for improving Australia’s seasonal worker scheme.

Labor Senator Tony Sheldon, who chaired the inquiry, said he was “flabbergasted to think that workers can take home as little as $100 a week and the system does not hold these employers accountable”.

“[MADEC is] one of the biggest operators of labor recruitment in agribusiness, agriculture industry and he needs to turn around and make sure he is doing the right thing,” a- he declared.

“But the problem is that the people who work in competition with them have the same practices.

“That needs to change…no Australian should be treated like this, so why should our Pacific neighbors be treated this way?”

Get the latest rural news

Last year, the federal government announced a new visa to recruit foreign workers to work on farms.

He had initially suggested that the first visa workers would arrive last year, but no country has yet agreed to take part in the scheme.

Last month, Mr Littleproud said it was up to Foreign Secretary Marise Payne to end the delays in implementing the new visa.

Related posts:

  1. East Nashville Neighbors Oppose Old Church to Bar | New
  2. Greensill Capital seeks insolvency protection in Australia
  3. Retail chains hit exit button on Manhattan leases, say it’s unsustainable
  4. Markelle Fultz signs long-term deal with Magic: Report

Recent Posts

  • Albanian prosecutors announce mass arrest of gang leaders
  • 12 TikTok accounts to follow for daily STEM classes
  • What is APR? What do you want to know
  • الوكالة الوطنية للإعلام – EU foreign ministers to meet on Monday
  • Biden administration can’t ignore the Balkans when it sanctions Russia

Archives

  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020

Categories

  • Albania Credit
  • Albania Economy
  • Albania Lending
  • Albania Real Estate
  • Loans
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy