Overexploited, overworked and over here!

by Peter Mc

Within the last week there have been a series of revelations concerning the 
super-exploitation of overseas workers. At the Hindu temple construction 
site at Helensburgh, south of Sydney, a team of eight masons brought to 
Australia three years ago have been held in virtual isolation ever since 
and forced to work between 8.00am and 6.00pm, seven days a week.

Despite having agreed in writing to comply with Australian minimum wage 
standards, their employer, the Sri Venkereswara Temple Association had paid 
them just $45 per week, plus $100 per week which was being sent to their 
families in India — or so they've been told.

Despite their protests, the workers were held under virtual imprisonment, 
being refused exit keys and forbidden from leaving the temple complex 
except for closely-supervised excursions held every three months.

No tax declaration or employment forms were provided to the workers.

It appears that there are no time and wage records of their employment and 
that no insurance or Medicare coverage has been provided for them.

The men finally made contact with officials of the Construction, Forestry 
Mining and Engineering Union (CFMEU), and matters came to a head last week 
when the men downed tools to demand compensation.

The Temple management has so far failed to enter into direct negotiations, 
but lawyers acting on their behalf have offered a total of $25,000. Not 
surprisingly the men turned this offer down.

It now appears that the "serial sponsorship" of sculptors and stonemasons 
has been going on for nine years and is by no means confined to the 
Helensburgh site.

In another case, which CFMEU describes as a "carbon copy" of the 
Helensburgh situation, workers employed in construction of a temple in the 
Canberra suburb of Torrens are believed to have suffered similar treatment.

Union officials have been trying to gain access to the site for 18 months, 
but the temple management has refused access, simply offering the card of 
the Employment Advocate to union officials.

"Guest worker" housekeepers working at Sydney's Regent Hotel are being paid 
at Indonesian and Hong Kong rates of pay, and in Indonesian and Hong Kong 
currency.

The Hotel management has defended this practice, claiming that meals, 
accommodation and laundry services compensate for shortcomings in pay and 
conditions of work.

Needless to say this line of argument has not impressed union officials, 
who are currently working with the Hotel workers to get a better deal.