Pacific workers face 'appalling' housing, fear deportation if they seek medical care, inquiry told   :(
An inquiry into modern slavery has heard harrowing tales of migrant workers living in overcrowded and "unliveable" accommodation, and of injured workers too afraid of deportation to seek medical care.
June 2 2025 SBS News.
In the face of growing criticism about work and living conditions, several agricultural industry bodies cited an independent survey that found 98 per cent of Pacific Australia Labour Mobility workers would recommend the scheme to others.

Migrant workers who have lost limbs or been blinded in Australian workplaces fear they will be deported if they seek medical treatment, an inquiry into modern slavery has been told.   :o

Workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme were particularly vulnerable due to their strict visa conditions, which stop them from changing employers, lawyer Joshua Strutt said.

"PALM visa holders are one of the most exploited temporary visa holders in Australia," said Strutt, the chief executive of the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre.



The PALM scheme allows eligible Australian businesses to hire people from Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste, usually to work in agriculture and meat processing.

The legal service has heard from PALM workers who have been severely injured in workplace accidents, but are too scared to seek medical care.


'Scared' and 'helpless': Rayasi's dream of working in Australia was not what she envisioned

"There's this really huge power imbalance that exists through this system that needs to be fixed," Strutt told the inquiry in Sydney on Monday.

The NSW parliamentary inquiry is examining the risks of modern slavery in rural areas, investigating the extent of forced labour, violence, sexual servitude, labour trafficking and wage violations.
Woolworths attests to 'appalling' conditions
Supermarket giant Woolworths took on a labour hire company after being told migrant workers in its Queensland supply chain were living in poor conditions.

"We did a site inspection and the housing conditions were indeed appalling and unliveable," Woolworths group's human rights general manager Rachel Elliott said.

"The workers had raised this with the labour hire provider to no avail."

The unnamed labour hire organisation was booted from migrant worker schemes, but there have since been reports of the company attempting to operate in other states, she said.

'It broke us, the whole feeling of shame, anger, despair':


Woolworths conducts 1,000 workplace audits in its supply chain each year, revealing about 5,000 incidents of non-compliance that range from fire safety issues to underpayment.

The underpayments were often the result of labour hire companies failing to pass on entitlements to workers, Elliott said.

After audits in NSW over the last two years, Woolworths has worked with suppliers to repay $50,000 in the meat industry and $48,000 in horticulture.
'A visceral fear of speaking up'
Overcrowded accommodation was another pressing issue, with regular reports of 10 people living in one house and paying $170 per bed, Australian Workers' Union organiser Jonathan Cook told the inquiry.

"It is a clear and obvious exploitation of farm workers," Cook said.

Several agricultural industry bodies cited an independent survey conducted by the Australian National University and the World Bank that found 98 per cent of PALM workers would recommend the scheme to others.


'Virtually impossible' for migrant workers to hold employers accountable for unpaid wages

But workers were not in a position of power to be open about their conditions, Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association industrial officer Bernard Govind said.

"We know migrant workers ... have a visceral fear of speaking up against workplace exploitation for fear of visa cancellation and deportation."

Are you happy for dole bludgers to be made to do work for the dole picking fruit?

Are you happy to pay 100% more for your fruit and vegetables.

If not, I suggest you shut up and accept your hypocrisy

I am happy for people to be paid, no less than the correct minimum wage.   :(

If it were not for the artificial priming of all costs nationwide in this country - ask your selves why .... fruit could be grown more cheaply without exploiting labour, just like everything else...

When the costs of growing go up and up, the grower has no choice but to raise costs and cut corners, and that applies to all kinds of produce - not just fruit.

If the Australian dullah gets $0.65 US - HTF is it cheaper to import oranges from Cliffornia?

Let us not mention the Murray/Darling System etc - and the way successive frang-wits in our parliament - one after another - have had a go at fixing it so that it now does not provide water to many 'traditional owners' (sic), farmers are 'dying of thirst for their crops' alongside the river while it flows mightily to the cashew crop owned by Canada*... where it is somehow brought to a halt and then clogs the outlet to the sea through lack of sufficient water - while inland they are complaining about 'rising salinity'.  EVERY 'scheme' to fix the Murray-Darling  only supports foreign investments in water-sucking crops, including rice on the Darling.

Again - HTF did that happen as a matter of government policy?

You all need to wake up some time.

* The Milagro Beanfield War.

aquascoot wrote on Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 8:23am:

Are you happy for dole bludgers to be made to do work for the dole picking fruit? Are you happy to pay 100% more for your fruit and vegetables. If not, I suggest you shut up and accept your hypocrisy

Horseboy, defending slavery now.

Did anyone need further edification of precisely what he's always meant by "the superior man"?

Quote:

The unnamed labour hire organisation was booted from migrant worker schemes, but there have since been reports of the company attempting to operate in other states, she said.

Why is it unnamed?

I am tipping because it is itself a company ran by tinted immigrants, exploiting their own.

Woolworths investigated and acted. The tinted chappies are carrying on interstate.

Modern day slavery the West is by third worldears enslaving their own. Africans, Indians, Burmese. Import the third world, become the third world.

Frank wrote on Jun 5^th, 2025 at 10:20pm:

Quote: The unnamed labour hire organisation was booted from migrant worker schemes, but there have since been reports of the company attempting to operate in other states, she said. Why is it unnamed? I am tipping because it is itself a company ran by tinted immigrants, exploiting their own. Woolworths investigated and acted. The tinted chappies are carrying on interstate. Modern day slavery the West is by third worldears enslaving their own. Africans, Indians, Burmese. Import the third world, become the third world.

You'er so far past completely buggered up.

Look, you absolute lunatic, slavery is endemic in western civilisation and has been pre, during and post colonialism.

We call it capitalism thse days but we've been at it for ages.

Modern day slavery exists from the corporate sphere all the way down to the individual in suburbia.

And there's plenty of blame to go around.

Roll on all and any inquiries into it so long as they don't overlook the very near slave conditions of sweat shops.

::)
mothra wrote on Jun 5^th, 2025 at 9:50pm:

aquascoot wrote on Jun 3rd, 2025 at 8:23am: Are you happy for dole bludgers to be made to do work for the dole picking fruit? Are you happy to pay 100% more for your fruit and vegetables. If not, I suggest you shut up and accept your hypocrisy Horseboy, defending slavery now. Did anyone need further edification of precisely what he's always meant by "the superior man"?

Why must the left lie.

White knight cannot have 2 things he posts for at once.

Higher wages for agricultural workers and lower supermarket costs.

Year 1 maths innit

So in which thread is he lying

Why must the left lie

aquascoot wrote on Jun 6^th, 2025 at 5:47am:

::) mothra wrote on Jun 5th, 2025 at 9:50pm: aquascoot wrote on Jun 3rd, 2025 at 8:23am: Are you happy for dole bludgers to be made to do work for the dole picking fruit? Are you happy to pay 100% more for your fruit and vegetables. If not, I suggest you shut up and accept your hypocrisy Horseboy, defending slavery now. Did anyone need further edification of precisely what he's always meant by "the superior man"? Why must the left lie. White knight cannot have 2 things he posts for at once. Higher wages for agricultural workers and lower supermarket costs. Year 1 maths innit So in which thread is he lying Why must the left lie

So people don't get living wages because you want more.

Colonialism 101.

The path, as it were, of the superior man.

Aboriginal colonialism, of wave after wave across forty thousand years or so - always involved true genocide and imperialism in shoving aside and dominating those already there.  Unlike past colonisers of other kinds - their genocide was absolute - they killed the women and children - something very few other 'cultures' did.  Most took in the women for shagging purposes and such... the kids as slaves or future tribal members..... even the Muslims destroying the Jews centuries ago would kill the men and keep the women.  The Mongols kept the good looking women...... sometimes enslaved the kids... some even say that Genghis was comparatively moderate for his time.

Colonialism 101.

You never condemn that.

mothra wrote on Jun 6^th, 2025 at 5:34am:

Frank wrote on Jun 5th, 2025 at 10:20pm: Quote: The unnamed labour hire organisation was booted from migrant worker schemes, but there have since been reports of the company attempting to operate in other states, she said. Why is it unnamed? I am tipping because it is itself a company ran by tinted immigrants, exploiting their own. Woolworths investigated and acted. The tinted chappies are carrying on interstate. Modern day slavery the West is by third worldears enslaving their own. Africans, Indians, Burmese. Import the third world, become the third world. You'er so far past completely buggered up. Look, you absolute lunatic, slavery is endemic in western civilisation and has been pre, during and post colonialism. We call it capitalism thse days but we've been at it for ages. Modern day slavery exists from the corporate sphere all the way down to the individual in suburbia. And there's plenty of blame to go around. Roll on all and any inquiries into it so long as they don't overlook the very near slave conditions of sweat shops.

Argh aye - be 'wage slavery' - one of those Marxist things...

Interesting to note that those who loudly decry it as an evil are themselves happy to participate - as long as their wage slavery is at the higher levels ..... they love the comfort zone of being in their higher echelons of wage slavery so they can pontificate about wage slavery....

Mothra exists by subsistence farming and trading off surplus... she abhors the capitalist way..

mothra wrote on Jun 6^th, 2025 at 5:34am:

Frank wrote on Jun 5th, 2025 at 10:20pm: Quote: The unnamed labour hire organisation was booted from migrant worker schemes, but there have since been reports of the company attempting to operate in other states, she said. Why is it unnamed? I am tipping because it is itself a company ran by tinted immigrants, exploiting their own. Woolworths investigated and acted. The tinted chappies are carrying on interstate. Modern day slavery the West is by third worldears enslaving their own. Africans, Indians, Burmese. Import the third world, become the third world. You'er so far past completely buggered up. Look, you absolute lunatic, slavery is endemic in western civilisation and has been pre, during and post colonialism. We call it capitalism thse days but we've been at it for ages. Modern day slavery exists from the corporate sphere all the way down to the individual in suburbia. And there's plenty of blame to go around. Roll on all and any inquiries into it so long as they don't overlook the very near slave conditions of sweat shops.

Nosense.

ONLY Western countries have ever been active and effective in ending slavery. Not third worlders.
So you import third worlders, you import their pathologies, like slavery, honour killing,  machete gangs.

Modern slavery convictions in the West are about third world immigrants exploiting and enslaving their compatriots.

mothra wrote on Jun 6^th, 2025 at 5:52am:

aquascoot wrote on Jun 6th, 2025 at 5:47am: ::) mothra wrote on Jun 5th, 2025 at 9:50pm: aquascoot wrote on Jun 3rd, 2025 at 8:23am: Are you happy for dole bludgers to be made to do work for the dole picking fruit? Are you happy to pay 100% more for your fruit and vegetables. If not, I suggest you shut up and accept your hypocrisy Horseboy, defending slavery now. Did anyone need further edification of precisely what he's always meant by "the superior man"? Why must the left lie. White knight cannot have 2 things he posts for at once. Higher wages for agricultural workers and lower supermarket costs. Year 1 maths innit So in which thread is he lying Why must the left lie So people don't get living wages because you want more. Colonialism 101. The path, as it were, of the superior man.

Why mist mothra lie.

I am not calling for cheaper supermarket prices.
Whitey knighty is.

He wants increased wages for agricultural workers and for supermarket workers AND he wants supermarkets to drop prices.

This is known as

Wanting to have your cake and eat it too.

A common flaw in leftie thinking  :'(

Then they wonder why people join unions, go figure.   :(

How is it Slavery when these workers come here offering themselves as 'cheap labour' (because they are plebs) to undercut, so to speak, Australian workers from getting the work or other internationals who don't lower their standards?
A lot of them are illegals. I saw x11 of them get busted in a day, walking the main street of Leeton in the Riverina. They're there for the fruit pickings and offering themselves cheaper just to get the work over others.
Peanut workers deserve nothing but peanuts for pay.
Slavery my arse!

Control costs of living including homing first - then we can discuss wages.  Perpetuating the mindless rat race - the lemming rush to higher wages that leads inevitably to the cliffs of cost of living will not resolve the problems for this country.

We need to drain the billabongs and clean out the stables of all these New Robber Baron vultures who are making hay out of Australian's misery, both Onshore vultures and Offshore pirates.  Wake up, you idiots!!

You know who I mean... if you don't by now - your bleach in the eyes is working and so is your ear bleach.

Someone said yesterday that Rudd family was worth $350m - know how they got it? By getting in on the ground floor of Insiders Inc where government Rudd was in was about to throw billions of loose dollars around.  And none dare call it theft, any more than you dorks call Howard's Stolen Now $335Bn future fund taken out of OUR treasury and put in a tax haven theft.

You shouldn't be worried about the rich people who go into politics - someone in the US said - you should be watching those who come in poor and leave rich.  Better still let's drain the billabong of both.... make political position a hardship posting, cold showers etc - to clear their thinking.  And make it retrospective.

mothra wrote on Jun 6^th, 2025 at 5:34am:

You'er so far past completely buggered up. Look, you absolute lunatic, slavery is endemic in western civilisation and has been pre, during and post colonialism. We call it capitalism thse days but we've been at it for ages. Modern day slavery exists from the corporate sphere all the way down to the individual in suburbia. And there's plenty of blame to go around. Roll on all and any inquiries into it so long as they don't overlook the very near slave conditions of sweat shops.

White people didn't invent slavery.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: the British Empire ended slavery in the civilised parts of the world. Elsewhere slavery persists. Immigrants from 'elsewhere', the uncivilised oarts, are bringing it back to Western countries.

Let a black man explain it:

https://x.com/thatsKAIZEN/status/1954653721889267807

Not to worry, the ALP, champions of the working class, will put a stop to it.

Yes - they'll catch the old girl out yet.... she and her sisters are lost since they abolished the slave trade so they take it out on men in their lives...

Frank wrote on Aug 12^th, 2025 at 5:37pm:

mothra wrote on Jun 6th, 2025 at 5:34am: You'er so far past completely buggered up. Look, you absolute lunatic, slavery is endemic in western civilisation and has been pre, during and post colonialism. We call it capitalism thse days but we've been at it for ages. Modern day slavery exists from the corporate sphere all the way down to the individual in suburbia. And there's plenty of blame to go around. Roll on all and any inquiries into it so long as they don't overlook the very near slave conditions of sweat shops. White people didn't invent slavery. Here's the uncomfortable truth: the British Empire ended slavery in the civilised parts of the world. Elsewhere slavery persists. Immigrants from 'elsewhere', the uncivilised oarts, are bringing it back to Western countries. Let a black man explain it: https://x.com/thatsKAIZEN/status/1954653721889267807

Argh, aye - mothra be slave for sitting around drawing her salary for pontificating at others about how socially wrong they are all the time... by that standard Albo is a slave... and so is Penny ...  arrrrgh - all we the people need do is enforce their slavery to the people and nation.....

In a way you are right, mothra... the 'social contract' wherein it was deemed fair and right for a person/family to prosper and develop a life guaranteeing the basics of home, family, food and so forth - even if not necessarily a luxury world tour - which, if you look at it, was a form of slavery providing bread and a roof over the head in return for servitude for life...... has been displaced by the god of greed... and not least by 'progressives' clawing their way up the blood-stained slippery pole by clawing at everyone else.....

It's the new way ... but the game remains the same with a little deck chair shuffling ... Paul Keating's Allegory to a Khefre about his people being like a bucket of crabs - whenever one tries to climb out the others just drag him back down..... still applies... even Keating made a point now and then in between his gross acts of treachery...

Not to worry - Trump has you all by the balls and will sort every issue out for you!!