The Guardian 12 December, 2007
Union fights for sick visa worker
A 457 visa worker in Darwin has contracted a potentially fatal illness as a result of being forced back to work when he had not recovered from chicken pox.
The worker, Rico Mavotas, is in hospital with melioidosis and is facing deportation within 28 days.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) has swung into action to support Mr Mavotas’ claim to workers’ compensation and is fighting the Department of Immigration to stop his deportation.
AMWU organiser in the Northern Territory Jamey Robertson said Mr Mavotas was sacked while he was in hospital and then told he would be deported if he couldn’t find another job.
"The Immigration Department insists they can’t get involved in industrial matters, but this is such an obvious case of exploitation", said Mr Robertson. "First Mr Mavotas gets chicken pox and told to go back to work while he still has lesions. His boss made him work between 4pm and midnight so he wouldn’t infect the other workers.
"The lesions are what caused him to contract melioidosis and while he’s in hospital fighting for his life, he’s told he’s going to be deported. It’s outrageous."
Melioidosis is a dirt-borne disease that, like the Ross River virus, attacks the nervous system. Mr Mavotas, a pump technician working in soil, was not provided with gloves or warned about any risk of contracting melioidosis.
Mr Robertson said the union was supporting the worker’s claim for workers’ compensation and pursuing a case under anti-discrimination laws.
The company terminated Mr Mavotas claiming that he wasn’t skilled to do the job. They are also claiming that they are not responsible for his illness.
Mr Robertson said melioidosis was prevalent in the Northern Territory.
"It’s well known that no one with lesions should be working with soil until they are fully recovered. But he was pressured to return to work and to make matters worse, he worked without adequate protection."
"It’s another case of a 457 visa worker who is being exploited because they don’t know their rights."