The Guardian 15 March, 2006
Pizza workers win back pay
Filipino guest workers are celebrating after Zeffirelli’s pizza restaurant in Canberra was ordered by the Federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to pay $5,000 in back pay. The workers are now camping outside the Department of Immigration over red-tape stopping them from taking up new jobs.
"Bureaucracy is now stopping many of these mistreated workers from taking up new jobs which the LHMU (Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union) has now organised", said David Bibo, LHMU ACT Hospitality Union organiser. "Delays have stretched out to two to three weeks before the new sponsoring employers are cleared. Our people cannot work legally with these good bosses until the clearance is received.
"We’ve taken the hard yards to clean up the mess created by the irresponsible hospitality bosses and the Department. The Department of Immigration should cut the red tape — or we might lose these jobs too."
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations found the workers had their wages effectively cut by half because of unauthorised expenses deducted, and non-payment of Award entitlements, by their employer.
The workers were among 30 Filipino cooks and restaurant staff who arrived last September to work as short-term skilled labour.
"The employer has breached virtually all aspects of the Award", said Mr Bibo, adding that a wage case involving another two Canberra restaurants would be determined this week.