Australian Politics Forum

Seasonal workers from Fiji who were paid less than $10 dollars a week have been told they must return to work for the contractor they say exploited them — or leave Australia.

An ABC investigation last month revealed many of the workers received little or no pay after deductions while picking fruit and vegetables for AFS Contracting, in northern Victoria.

Since then, representatives from the Departments of Employment and Immigration met the Fijians, who have quit working for the contractor that sponsored their temporary visas to come to Australia.

The government officials told the workers they did not have long to make their decision.

"They [are] pushing us to go back home. Every one of us is not happy," one of the group's leaders, Merewairita Sovasiga, said.

"And we are going back home with nothing. We are taking nothing back home."

The Fijians said they would like to stay and find work with other employers.

Workers want to take money home to cyclone-ravaged villages

Most are desperate to make some money before returning home.

"Most of these workers have homes that were devastated by the cyclone," said Sakiusa Lesuma, a Fijian-Australian who is assisting the seasonal workers.

"This is the reason they want to stay back, and work somewhere else, earn some money."

The ABC understands the Departments of Immigration and Employment told the Fijians the only option to earn money was to return to work for AFS Contracting and its owner, Tony Yamankol.

The workers from Fiji at the meeting said they would not do that.

"If you don't want to go back to Fiji, then they're trying to send us to our employer, Tony [Yamankol]. But I don't like it," one of the workers at the meeting, Manueli Taione, said.

"The way they treat us, they treat us like slaves, you know?"

The ABC tried repeatedly to contact AFS Contracting owner Mr Yamankol to ask him about the workers' allegations.

He did not respond to numerous phone calls and emails.

Visits to the farm where the Fijians worked, Mr Yamankol's home and his registered office address were unsuccessful.

Ombudsman to review low wages claim

Minister for Employment Michaelia Cash has declined repeated requests for an interview about the Fijians' case, and the potential damage it could be doing to the reputation of Seasonal Workers Programme in Fiji and other Pacific Islands. :(

The minister told the ABC that "the Department of Employment had referred specific issues to the Fair Work Ombudsman for review".

Sakiusa Lesuma runs a Facebook forum for Pacific Islanders looking to pick produce in Australia and New Zealand.

"The way it goes on now, it looks like they've been dudded," he said.

Mr Lesuma said there had been a lot of online chatter about this case amongst the forum's 46,000 members.

"Even the Government we think should help them, is abandoning them now," he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement that it was talking to Fiji about the workers' complaints.

"The Australian Government regularly engages all Seasonal Worker Program participating countries on matters relating to their nation's workers, including with Fiji on the allegations in this matter," a spokesperson said.

Fiji's Government said it was concerned by the reports of alleged exploitation.

"We've asked out counterparts in Australia to have a look at the conditions and all the complaints that have been raised by our seasonal workers, and they will come back to us," Fiji Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Semi Koroilavesau said.

Fiji said 133 workers had been sent to Australia under the Seasonal Worker Program since last July.

Most come from rural areas, and the Fijian Government said many may not know what to expect when they get to Australia.

"We will continue to carry out public consultations in the rural areas, and make sure that our people understand the contracts that they enter into," Mr Koroilavesau said.

I wonder how much money Tony yamankol donated to Libtards ?

I can see that perhaps under the terms of their visas, the workers have no other choice than to continue work WHILE the matters are being investigated. Sadly for them that seems their only option.

This kind of thing shows the whole issue in a very poor light, and also the failure of Cash to make any comment at all shows her true colours. Like many such, she hopes the whole thing will go away before she has to make any substantive statement on the issues, leading to an underlying feeling that this government not only simply does not care about such things, but actively encourages them as a means of chopping wages.

She could get away with a simple statement that the matters are under investigation (which they likely are not), and that a full statement will be issued in due course... bit chooses not to.

I'm looking forward to seeing the way AP, Longy, Cods, et all justify this abuse by the libturds.

Tony doing it tough, that must be why he cant pay his 457s the Australian award rate

The rightard knuckle draggers on this forum appear to condone the governments position on this it seems :o

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 12:24pm:

Swags default position when he can't debunk the awful position his messiahs have put him in .

NOt sure which part is false, Swag. However I am sure you are very proud that Australia is moving towards an underclass to serve all those people with a sense of entitlement and instinct to rort i.e libs.

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 12:24pm:

WARNING: Libturd deflection attempted. Failed. No damage detected.

Minister for Employment Michaelia Cash has declined repeated requests for an interview about the Fijians' case, and the potential damage it could be doing to the reputation of Seasonal Workers Programme in Fiji and other Pacific Islands :-/ :( :-/ :(

Seasonal workers from Fiji who were paid less than $10 dollars a week have been told they must return to work for the contractor they say exploited them — or leave Australia

Minister for Employment Michaelia Cash has declined repeated requests for an interview about the Fijians' case :-/

Cat got you tongue Rtards?

There will always be a small minority of law breakers and criminal parasites that abuse / corrupt.

Labor has never been any more successful in eliminating same.

Mr Yamankol , how much did you donate to the Libs to keep Ms Cash silent ?

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 12:47pm:

There will always be a small minority of law breakers and criminal parasites that abuse / corrupt.

Labor has never been any more successful in eliminating same.

So that makes it OK?????

isThe company I work for employs a lot of 457 visa holders, mainly Filipinos. The company turned over more than $120 million last year. They actually run a program dedicated to their recruitment, training and upkeep.

I also have a long time friend who is self-employed and finds it difficult to find skilled workers due to the location of his business and the specific skill sets required. I suggested the possibility of a 457 worker, even though their skill levels within the trade are not up to Australian standards.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, research by a family member of his, another friend of mine, had the researcher ring me to tell me that a 457 holder is entitled to 58k a year.

I called bullshit because I know the conditions my company places on its 457 employees, particularly within the branch where I'm employed, and have real trouble envisioning the company paying that sort of money to under-skilled tradesmen.

Said researcher said it's all in black and white on Government websites.

I still called bullshit but I don't have the time nor inclination to try to prove him wrong.

Clearly there exists quite distinct differences to what is written and what actually transpires. Perhaps someone has the inclination to do the research. That might enlighten everybody here before they comment about something they know little about.

However, these days the exploitation industry has spread its tentacles into almost any crook and nanny, so nothing really surprises me anymore. The only thing I DO know is that the exploitation of 457's and those on student visas is rampant and returns big dollars to those who abuse the system

You think these guys are alone?

Read the news on 7Eleven stores recently?

And let's not forget that many of the positions these exploited workers are filling are the direct result of the collapse of apprentice training and the loss of factory positions. That has been the fault of successive Governments.

I have no problem believing that the problem is more widespread than reported.

Cliff48 wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 12:50pm:

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 12:47pm:

There will always be a small minority of law breakers and criminal parasites that abuse / corrupt.

Labor has never been any more successful in eliminating same.

So that makes it OK?????

.....are you referring to Lefty's libelous comments?

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 12:47pm:

There will always be a small minority of law breakers and criminal parasites that abuse / corrupt.

Labor has never been any more successful in eliminating same.

funny how you never apply that logic to unions :D :D :D

Lionel, do you have a clue what you are talking about?

You make claims, then say you cant be bothered to check them.
seems to me, you are just flapping your gums for the sake of it.

Lionel Edriess wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 12:52pm:

had the researcher ring me to tell me that a 457 holder is entitled to 58k a year

I think where the 457 workers get scammed is in additional charges the employer charges the worker for training, accommodation and lodging etc ... unscrupulous employers charge so much that the worker ends up working for peanuts

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 12:56pm:

Cliff48 wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 12:50pm:

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 12:47pm:

There will always be a small minority of law breakers and criminal parasites that abuse / corrupt.

Labor has never been any more successful in eliminating same.

So that makes it OK?????

.....are you referring to Lefty's libelous comments?

no ----- to yours.

Cliff48 wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 1:03pm:

no ----- to yours

So that makes Leftwinger's 'OK'?

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 1:08pm:

Cliff48 wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 1:03pm:

no ----- to yours

So that makes Leftwinger's 'OK'?

I am not here to justify / support comments by anyone. I just call BS when I see it... and you jumped out and qualified.

It is not your choice who or what i respond to. Crawl back into the sewer drain that you came from.

Cliff48 wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 1:13pm:

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 1:08pm:

Cliff48 wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 1:03pm:

no ----- to yours

So that makes Leftwinger's 'OK'?

So you now realise that I think you just talk BS swaggie and you are deficient in any intelligent thought?

John Smith wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 12:58pm:

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 12:47pm:

There will always be a small minority of law breakers and criminal parasites that abuse / corrupt.

Labor has never been any more successful in eliminating same.

funny how you never apply that logic to unions :D :D :D

Yep. It's tunnel vision - lib style.

Cliff48 wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 1:21pm:

So you now realise that I think?

Nope, never had call to draw that conclusion.... :D

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 1:31pm:

Cliff48 wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 1:21pm:

So you now realise that I think?

Nope, never had call to draw that conclusion.... :D

equally, I have realise that thinking is beyond your capability

Cliff48 wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 1:34pm:

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 1:31pm:

Cliff48 wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 1:21pm:

So you now realise that I think?

Nope, never had call to draw that conclusion.... :D

equally, I have realise that thinking is beyond your capability

...that's ok Cliff..... I don't have to think when dealing with you..... :D ;D

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 1:46pm:

...that's ok Cliff..... I don't have to think when dealing with you..... Cheesy Grin

lucky for you then.

Will Ms Cash be commenting anytime soon on this rort and the hundreds of others we have heard of ?

Cliff48 wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 12:59pm:

Lionel, do you have a clue what you are talking about?

You make claims, then say you cant be bothered to check them.
seems to me, you are just flapping your gums for the sake of it.

Did you read what I wrote?

What part of it do you not understand?

I made no claims, I was relating a personal experience.

Please engage cognition before releasing comment.

Its time wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 5:23pm:

Will Ms Cash be commenting anytime soon on this rort and the hundreds of others we have heard of ?

I'll try and pretend to be Cash here..

"Yes I'll comment on this incident. The rorts are working as intended because The LNP are always behind businesses not workers. We aim to rename workers as indentured slaves (whoops, Freudian slip. We mean servants) to avoid any confusion as to why these 2nd class humans from a foreign country is here to work."

stunspore wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 6:15pm:

We aim to rename workers as indentured slaves

.....goes with being a progressive tax-payer

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 6:21pm:

stunspore wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 6:15pm:

We aim to rename workers as indentured slaves

.....goes with being a progressive tax-payer

Why has miss Cash , our minister for employment , avoided questions about 457s being consistently rorted ?

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 6:21pm:

.....goes with being a progressive tax-payer

that rules you out then. I doubt you pay any tax.

Swagman wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 6:21pm:

stunspore wrote on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 6:15pm:

We aim to rename workers as indentured slaves

.....goes with being a progressive tax-payer

Correcting you. It's working poor. Do google search it. It's very real and out there.

Australian Politics Forum
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl General Discussion >> Federal Politics >> More rampant 457 abuse under Libtards watch http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1459043131 Message started by Leftwinger on Mar 27^th, 2016 at 11:45am