The Australian Federal Government’s Seasonal Worker Programme has been exposed as a front for slave-like working conditions.
The Weekly Times can reveal the scheme has been exploited by government-approved labour-hire companies that are paying workers as little as $1.20 an hour.
The issue came to a head on the weekend as six Fijian workers were in the process of being sent home by one labour-hire company.
The workers were at Melbourne Airport when they became aware the “deportation” was being carried out without the knowledge of government departments, despite the labour-hire company making this claim.
The Weekly Times has discovered government authorities are unaware of the depth of exploitation in the Seasonal Worker Programme, with claims of mistreatment at farms in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
The Fijians were among a group of farm workers who walked off the job last month claiming underpayment and mistreatment at a Euston farm in southern NSW, near Robinvale.
Five of the six are in Melbourne seeking legal advice. They refused to leave Australia out of fear they would face jail if they returned home.
Under the Seasonal Worker Programme workers from Pacific Island countries receive a visa, usually valid for up to six months, to work in Australian agriculture and tourism regions unable to attract local labour. The program is predominantly used by horticulture producers.
The Fijians were casual employees of Queensland-based labour-hire company PlantGrowPick, an approved Department of Employment seasonal worker employer.
The alleged mistreatment included being:
PAID as little as $1.20 an hour under a piece rate system.
DENIED medical access.
UNDERFED by the labour-hire company, which was required to feed them.
UNABLE to move freely in the community, including visiting family.
VERBALLY abused by supervisors.
REFUSED work breaks.
PROHIBITED from attending church.
Last Thursday the workers were told they had been fired and were given less than 48 hours’ notice that they would be sent back to Fiji. Flights were booked on their behalf for Saturday night.
Once in Melbourne the workers decided to stay and fight for their rights. “This is the first time I have been treated like this, I feel like I have been treated like a slave,” worker Jovesa Maisiri said.
Pay slips seen by The Weekly Times revealed the workers were earning as little as $1.20 an hour on a casual piece rate — which pays on productivity, such as volume of fruit picked — despite being entitled to at least $21.61 an hour under the horticulture award. This award mandates workers must be paid a minimum hourly rate, regardless of their productivity.
The seasonal worker program entitles workers to “a minimum average of 30 hours of work per week”.
PlantGrowPick owner Mel Penson denied the workers should receive a minimum hourly rate and said the Fair Work Ombudsman had previously investigated the business and found no problems with the pay rate.
“Fair Work told me everything on the pay slip is correct,” Penson said.
One worker earned $1715.10 between October 5 and December 12, but PlantGrowPick deducted $862 for food, accommodation, bus fees and health insurance, leaving her with $597 after tax — an underpayment of at least $4767.90, based on a 40-hour week. However, worker Eleni Baxter claimed she worked an average of 60 hours a week.
She earned an average of $171.51 a week, which is less than Australian unemployment benefits.
The workers claim they were not allowed to visit the doctor, despite paying $33 a week in compulsory medical insurance.
Marcia Watiri claimed she developed a rash and swelling on her face and arms from the pesticide and herbicide sprays used on the farm.
Watiri claimed she was only able to visit the hospital once she was sacked. “PlantGrowPick never did anything to help me when I was sick.”
Despite having $45 a week deducted from their pay for food, which included five lunches and five dinners, the workers said they felt underfed and malnourished.
A Department of Employment spokeswoman said the department had “referred the case to the Fair Work Ombudsman”, which had begun investigating.
A Fair Work spokesman said there had been complaints about the program, but referred The Weekly Times to the Department of Employment.
Penson denied all the allegations. “I talked to the Fair Work Ombudsman before I terminated them and I was within my rights,” she said.
Euston farmer Charlie Costa — not associated with the Costa Group — who owns the farm where the Fijians worked, refused to speak to The Weekly Times.
The Weekly Times can also reveal 10 workers from Vanuatu, who worked at Hillston, NSW, and Tatura, were allegedly underpaid in the Seasonal Worker Programme this year.
These workers were employed by three labour-hire contractors, which The Weekly Times understands were not sanctioned by the program.
Australian Workers’ Union representative Ron Cowdrey, who assisted the Vanuatu workers, said he tried to contact the labour-hire contractor that brought the workers to Australia, but was unsuccessful, describing the setup as a “web of companies”.
“These workers are being taken advantage of by unscrupulous contractors that know they are not going to be punished,” he said.
The AWU will call for change to the Seasonal Worker Programme at the NSW Labor Party conference in February.