Trade Union movement

Overseas worker visas 'out of control'

Unions are angry that the Federal Government recently approved visas for approximately 200 temporary workers from China to work at an abattoir in Murray Bridge, South Australia despite the fact that there is significant unemployment in the area.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:

"Almost every day we are seeing more and more evidence that the Federal Government's temporary overseas worker program is out of control. Australians are being denied job opportunities and overseas workers are being exposed to exploitation.

Murray Bridge is an area with unemployment that is above the national average. Late last year a major employer closed down and around 160 workers lost their jobs.

It beggars belief that T and R Pastoral, the company running the abattoir, has been unable to find local people to fill their vacancies and has had to bring in 200 workers from overseas in December 2005 and January 2006.

Another major concern for unions are reports that the Chinese workers are working excessively long hours and are being paid less than the abattoir's local workers.

Unions have written to Minister Amanda Vanstone on this issue and understand that the Department of Immigration is now investigating," said Ms Burrow.

These visas are being abused and it is time the Federal Government did something about it. If there are jobs available they should first go to Australians. Every effort should be exhausted before overseas workers are brought in. And beyond that, whoever does the work, should be paid Australian wages and employment conditions," said Ms Burrow.

ABATTOIR WORKERS LOCKED OUT FOR REFUSING TO SACRIFICE AUSTRALIA DAY

Also in South Australia, twenty workers at an abattoir in Naracoorte have this week been locked out of their workplace because they have refused to sign an AWA individual contract that requires them to work on Australia Day.

The workers want a collective agreement that protects their right to a day off on Australia Day and have been locked out of their workplace without pay by the company.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:

"The Federal Government spent millions of dollars saying that workers would not lose public holidays, pay and conditions under their IR laws.

Minister Andrews should come down to Naracoorte and tell these workers why they have been locked out of their workplace for refusing to sign an individual contract that gets rid of the Australia Day public holiday.

The Naracoorte abattoir also employs around 28 workers from China on temporary business visas issued by the Federal Government.

One of the requirements of the visa is supposed to be that there are no local people available to do the job. How can the Government claim there are no locals to do these jobs when the employer has just locked 20 people out of the workplace?" said Ms Burrow.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/general/20060224_jobs.html
Last Modified: 24 Feb 2006