Irish workers ‘exploited’ in Australia says union

An Australian trade union leader has said a growing number of Irish workers are being exploited — and often by their countrymen.

Dave Noonan, Construction and General National Secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), said some Irish migrants were often “under pressure” not to complain about poor pay or conditions.

Mr Noonan said Irish workers — either in Australia on working Holiday Visas or under the skilled migration 457 visas — have come to the attention of his union because of pay and entitlements being withheld by employers.

“We have a number of examples of them not being paid correct hourly rates, overtime rates, or being induced in sham contractor or bogus contractor arrangements,” Mr Noonan said.

In the latter situation, the worker is employed directly but is told to feign being a contract worker, thereby making them responsible for their own insurance. In such scenarios, workers often miss out on valid entitlements.

Mr Noonan also said worker safety was an issue, citing examples where Irish people have travelled under 457 visas under which they are described as filling particular roles, when in actual fact they end up working as scaffolders and in similar positions.

“Our union has got a pretty good success rate for workers who have been ripped off. Unfortunately, in many cases the worst offenders are themselves Irish among the employers.”

Mr Noonan said some issues had been raised by workers with the Irish Embassy in Canberra. He added that among the entitlements withheld from some Irish workers are superannuation and pension payments, often refunded to the worker on their return home.

Meanwhile, Irish people who worked in Australia in the past eight years could be entitled to a tax refund of Aus$2,600.

Taxback.com said the Australian tax year finished on June 30, allowing workers make a tax refund application. The company said much of this money is left unclaimed, with Aoife Flynn of Taxback stating: “There are still people who do not know that if they worked in Australia in the last 10 years then they might be entitled to a tax and possibly pension refund.

“Tax entitlements from Australia can be applied for up to eight years after the person earned the income in question, so we are not just calling on Irish workers from 2013 — but also those from as far back as 2005.”

www.taxback.com