ID :
11861
Tue, 07/08/2008 - 11:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/11861
The shortlink copeid
Pak student alleges Aus companies of slave-like treatment
Melbourne, July 8 (PTI) A Pakistani student who was paid just a mere over One Australian dollar an hour for over 150 hours work as a security guard at the Australian Open tennis is reportedly suing several companies for being treatedlike a "slave".
23-year-old Faisal Durrani said he was aware of at least another four security guards from the subcontinent whohad only received a small payment for their work at the Open.
"I believe there are a lot more," he said.
It is the latest alleged incident to involve the mistreatment of workers from the subcontinent after the masstaxi driver protest in early May over unsafe work conditions.
Durrani's statement of claim, lodged at the Melbourne Magistrates Court, alleges that he was paid 200 Australian dollars for the 158 hours he had worked at the AustralianOpen.
"To me it was an act of slavery, we have been treated like slaves," he was quoted saying in 'The Age' Monday. His solicitor, Andrew Weinmann of Maurice Blackburn, described thecase as "outrageous" for a number of reasons.
"First, we often see cases where a worker is not paid correctly. It's not so common to see a worker barely paid at all," he said, adding "Second, our client is a vulnerable worker - a visitor to Australia trying to scrape together an income while he completes his studies." Durrani is seeking about USD 4000 in wages he is said to be owed and lawyers are also pursuing interest, costs and penalties through the Workplace Relations Act that could runinto the tens of thousands of dollars.
However, the case is complex as it is bit difficult todetermine who Durrani's employer was.
The first defendant named in the claim is Unified Security N.S.W., while the second is Unified's director Geoff Chain. Chain, who could not be reached for comment, is alleged to have threatened to "kick the arse" of Durrani in March ifhe continued to seek payment of wages owed to him.
Also named in the writ is a subcontractor to Unified, George Guirguis. "It's not my fault whatsoever," Guirguis toldThe Age. He said he was not paid by Chain for the work he did.
The other defendant named is the head security contractor to the Australian Open, Australian SecurityServices, and its director Harry Thompson.
"The threats of violence against our client are most disturbing of all," Weinmann said, adding "A worker being threatened for trying to recover their wages is completely unacceptable."
23-year-old Faisal Durrani said he was aware of at least another four security guards from the subcontinent whohad only received a small payment for their work at the Open.
"I believe there are a lot more," he said.
It is the latest alleged incident to involve the mistreatment of workers from the subcontinent after the masstaxi driver protest in early May over unsafe work conditions.
Durrani's statement of claim, lodged at the Melbourne Magistrates Court, alleges that he was paid 200 Australian dollars for the 158 hours he had worked at the AustralianOpen.
"To me it was an act of slavery, we have been treated like slaves," he was quoted saying in 'The Age' Monday. His solicitor, Andrew Weinmann of Maurice Blackburn, described thecase as "outrageous" for a number of reasons.
"First, we often see cases where a worker is not paid correctly. It's not so common to see a worker barely paid at all," he said, adding "Second, our client is a vulnerable worker - a visitor to Australia trying to scrape together an income while he completes his studies." Durrani is seeking about USD 4000 in wages he is said to be owed and lawyers are also pursuing interest, costs and penalties through the Workplace Relations Act that could runinto the tens of thousands of dollars.
However, the case is complex as it is bit difficult todetermine who Durrani's employer was.
The first defendant named in the claim is Unified Security N.S.W., while the second is Unified's director Geoff Chain. Chain, who could not be reached for comment, is alleged to have threatened to "kick the arse" of Durrani in March ifhe continued to seek payment of wages owed to him.
Also named in the writ is a subcontractor to Unified, George Guirguis. "It's not my fault whatsoever," Guirguis toldThe Age. He said he was not paid by Chain for the work he did.
The other defendant named is the head security contractor to the Australian Open, Australian SecurityServices, and its director Harry Thompson.
"The threats of violence against our client are most disturbing of all," Weinmann said, adding "A worker being threatened for trying to recover their wages is completely unacceptable."
