Solomon Islands workers paid below minimum wage in Australia’s largest food processing company JBS Primo
BY NED GAGAHE
Solomon Islands seasonal workers in Australia’s largest food processing company JBS Primo under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme are being paid below the Australian minimum wage rate of AUD24.1 per hour.
Around 50 workers are reportedly affected by this mistreatment, and are being paid at AUD23.52 per hour.
It is understood they are first-year workers, and are in their eighth month of employment. Second-year workers and above are reportedly paid the minimum wage and above.
JBS Primo has not responded to enquiries sent it by Island Sun.
The Solomon Islands foreign affairs ministry (MFAET), which coordinates the seasonal worker scheme here has also chosen to remain silent to enquiries.
The Australian High Commission in Honiara has reiterated to the paper that the Australian government has zero tolerance for mistreatment of workers under the PALM scheme.
One of the spokespersons for the Solomon Islanders employed by JBS Primo, who requested anonymity, shares that they had been misled by the company and MFAET officials during their meetings before flying over to Australia.
They are heading towards their ninth month with JBS Primo and apart from being paid below minimum wage, they are still paying off deductions which they were promised would only be for the first three months.
Payslips of several workers Island Sun have sighted show – mobility ongoing programme deduction, mobility programme ST flights deduction, health and mobile deductions – which the workers dispute.
Another worker, speaking on anonymity said:
“Now, I have been working for over a year with the company, but we’re still being paid below the minimum rate, this is totally unfair.
“Some of the workers who came before us, now in the second year, are being paid the minimum rate or more.”
The minimum wage in Australia is AUD24.10 commencing from July 1 this year or $915.90 per 38-hour work.
A spokesperson from the Australian High Commission, Honiara in response to this paper’s enquiry said that worker welfare and wellbeing is at the heart of how Australia approaches labour mobility.
The spokesperson said all workers participating in the PALM scheme have the same workplace rights and protections as Australian workers.
“Despite this we have no option but to sacrifice ourselves, work tirelessly every day,” a seasonal worker who spoke to Island Sun said.
While the workers recognise the economic necessity of their employment, sending money back home to support their families and contribute to various purposes, they also highlight the adverse impact on their welfare and wellbeing.
“This is really affecting us because we have to pay for weekly accommodation bills, living costs and other needs, we have to foot these bills,” the worker added.
If there is no overtime work they receive only around AUD400 that payday, the worker said.
The worker emphasised the need for responsible authorities to take this matter seriously, as it could have a detrimental impact on the well-being of individual seasonal workers.
“Time and again we raised this with our supervisors and authorities but it seems it falls on deaf ears,” the workers said.
As the concerns of seasonal workers gain attention, it remains to be seen how authorities will respond to ensure the fair treatment to the workers who play a crucial role in the agricultural workforce of Australia.
The Island Sun sent questions two weeks ago to JBS Primo via their website but did not receive any response. This paper also contacted the JBS Primo via their Facebook page but with no response.
This paper also sent questions to the Director of LMU of MFAET for comments for nearly three weeks but received no feedback or comment on that matter.
This paper understands that in recent changes to the PALM scheme, from January 1 this year, employers are required to offer 30 hours of work per week, averaged over four weeks, for all existing and new short-term recruitments.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Australian High Commission in Honiara said that the Australian Government has zero tolerance for worker mistreatment in the PALM scheme
“We take all allegations of worker mistreatment seriously and promptly investigate them. Where breaches of Australian law or PALM scheme employer obligations are identified, we refer them to the appropriate authority or regulator.
“Anyone with any concerns about PALM scheme workers’ welfare and wellbeing should contact the PALM scheme support line on 1800 51 51 31 or via ([email protected]).”
The PALM scheme has provided over 7,600 jobs for Solomon Islanders, who save and send home an average of SBD8,500 per month, enabling them to pay school fees, build houses and start businesses.
This programme helps support Solomon Islands’ economic development, and the benefits are felt across the communities of returned Solomon Islands PALM workers.
