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We Have A Problem With The Chinese Workers. (Read 720 times)
imcrookonit
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We Have A Problem With The Chinese Workers.
Feb 14th, 2011 at 5:47pm
 
A powerful construction union claims Chinese workers on 457 visas are being exploited on a Perth building site.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union says 50 Chinese workers, who are helping to build apartments on Barrack Street in the centre of the city, are being underpaid.   Sad

The CFMEU's state secretary Kevin Reynolds says they are picketing the site.

"We've got a problem with the Chinese workers, particularly the female Chinese workers being paid $12 an hour, $100 a day, and some of them complained today they weren't paid at all last week," he said.    Sad

"This is totally illegal what's going on and shouldn't happen in Perth or in Australia."   Angry

Mr Reynolds says they are entitled to $28 an hour plus other benefits.

"The workers tried to resolve it this morning with the principal contractor who's just threatened to fine all the workers and call the police and what have you so there's a picket on the job for the day," he said.    Shocked

"The Chinese contractor has said he's paying them right, but they know that there's a lot of problems here."

The apartments are being constructed by the Inner City Building Company which has declined to comment on the claims.

Mr Reynolds says the workers should be paid properly.

"The problem, of course, is that the government say that they're doing an investigation into this, we're told that by the time this investigation is completed and any matters proceed through the courts the Chinese workers will be gone, they'll be back in China," he said.    Sad
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imcrookonit
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Re: We Have A Problem With The Chinese Workers.
Reply #1 - Feb 15th, 2011 at 5:43am
 
MILITANT union boss Kevin Reynolds yesterday shut down a Perth building site, claiming 457 visas for foreign workers were being used to bring in cheap Chinese and Korean labour on less than half the standard wage.   Angry

The Australian Building and Construction Commission is already investigating the Equus site in the CBD -- a huge residential, office and retail development -- which it visited last week.

But a furious Mr Reynolds said nothing had changed and his members downed tools yesterday when the Chinese and Korean workers were back on site, still earning $12 an hour compared with $28 an hour paid to Australian workers.   Angry

The Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union chief said most spoke no English and were very vulnerable and the ABCC should be on site every day until the "sham" was fixed.   Sad

He said 457 visa abuse was rife across Perth building sites and the "carcass-brokers" felt increasingly safe, knowing their workers would be back in China before the ABCC took action.


But in a significant win for the union, the ABCC responded hours later by fast-tracking its inquiry.

"As part of these investigations, the ABCC has today issued notices to a number of sub-contractors on the site, demanding documents and records under Section 59 of the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act," a spokesperson said. "Anyone failing to comply with this notice may be liable for criminal prosecution."

The principal contractor on site is Inner City Building Company, which refused to comment. Chinese-backed company Professional Gyprock Solution could not be contacted.

The ABCC said underpayments and sham contracting put "decent employers at a competitive disadvantage" and would not be tolerated.
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Sir lastnail
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Re: We Have A Problem With The Chinese Workers.
Reply #2 - Feb 15th, 2011 at 12:05pm
 
the libbos will tell you that it is the right of wealthy Australian businesses to exploit 3rd world labor and put locals out of a job Sad They will also tell you that it is the right of wealthy Australian retail businesses to deny locals their right to seek out a bargain from a foreign online resellers Sad

It doesn't make sense does it !!
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In August 2021, Newcastle Coroner Karen Dilks recorded that Lisa Shaw had died “due to complications of an AstraZeneca COVID vaccination”.
 
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imcrookonit
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Re: We Have A Problem With The Chinese Workers.
Reply #3 - Feb 15th, 2011 at 12:12pm
 
Yes nail that is quite right, it doesn't make sense to me.  Then again when these things happen, and the workers go out on strike, and have a picket line across the site.  Well, that does make sense.   Smiley
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bridonta
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Re: We Have A Problem With The Chinese Workers.
Reply #4 - Feb 15th, 2011 at 8:21pm
 
wonder why they kept mentioning about skill shortaged crisis
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