The Guardian 15 February, 2006
Guest workers sold to employers
Howard Ministers have been wining and dining at a bar tied up in allegations of extreme
exploitation and bullying of Filipino guest workers. The infamous Holy Grail bar is one of
three Canberra eateries that have been fingered in an industrial relations stink that
threatens to become a full-blown diplomatic incident.
Senator Kate Lundy named three posh establishments in federal Parliament last week: The Holy
Grail — the home base of the Canberra polito-ratti — along with Milk and Honey, and the Zeffirelli
Pizza Restaurant.
She said workers, imported from the Philippines, had been underpaid, treated like slaves and
subjected to racial vilification. The issue blew up after the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous
Workers' Union (LHMU) alleged two guest workers had been locked out of their workplaces after
filing complaints. One, it said, was so worried by employer threats that he had taken out an
AVO.
The treatment of its nationals has prompted the Philippines Embassy to lodge a complaint with the
Immigration Department. The issue arises as the Howard Government opens the way for the mass
importation of labour, skilled and unskilled, on terms that undercut negotiated
minimums.
Lundy told Parliament a Canberra businessman had recruited Filipino hospitality workers last year,
and "sold" them to their employers $6,000-$8,000 a head.
She said at least 15 imported workers had lodged complaints and some had said the Canberra
conditions were the worst they had ever experienced.
The Canberra Times quoted one worker as saying he had been forced to eat food reclaimed
from a rubbish bin. "He repeatedly said to me, 'I paid for you to come to Australia, if you don't work
hard enough I will send you back to where you belong'", the Times reported.
The LHMU says Canberra businesses have identified chef, Dario De Guzman, as a "ringleader"
amongst the guest workers and moved to have him deported. ACT Chamber of Commerce chief,
Chris Peters, has rejected all allegations against the Canberra restaurants. He criticised Lundy for
naming the businesses under Parliamentary privilege.
Lundy said she hoped her action would help bring justice to the workers and remind employers
who chose to do the wrong thing that they would be challenged.