ਫੇਅਰ ਵਰਕ ਓਮਬੁਡਸਮਨ ਨੇ ਬੇਂਡੀਗੋ ਸ਼ਾਪਿੰਗ ਸੈਂਟਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਟਰਾਲੀਆਂ ਇਕੱਠੀਆਂ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਕੰਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੱਗੇ ਪਰਵਾਸੀ ਕਾਮਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਣਦਾ ਇਵਜ਼ਾਨਾ ਨਾ ਦੇਣ ਦੇ ਦੋਸ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੋਬਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਤਫਤੀਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ।
ਫੇਅਰ ਵਰਕ ਨੇ ਦੋਸ਼ ਲਾਇਆ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਜੋਬਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਨੇ ਇੱਕ ਅਫਗਾਨੀ ਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨੀ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ ਕਾਮੇ ਨੂੰ ਟਰਾਲੀਆਂ ਇਕੱਠੀਆਂ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਬਣਦੀ ਤਨਖਾਹ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੱਤੀ।
ਫੈਡਰਲ ਸਰਕਟ ਕੋਰਟ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਦੋਸ਼ ਦੇ ਚਲਦਿਆਂ ਜੋਬਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ $੪੦,੫੧੦ ਤੇ ਉਸਦੀ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਨੂੰ $੧੯੦,੧੨੮ ਦਾ ਜ਼ੁਰਮਾਨਾ ਲਾਇਆ ਹੈ।
ਜੋਬਨਜੀਤ ਨੇ ਅਦਾਲਤ ਨੂੰ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਉਸਨੇ ਇਸ ਤਰਾਹ ਜਾਣ-ਬੁੱਝ ਕੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ, ਪਰ ਜੱਜ ਨੇ ਸੁਣਵਾਈ ਦੋਰਾਨ ਜੁਰਮਾਨਾ ਠੋਕਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੋਈ ਕਸਰ ਨਾ ਛੱਡੀ।
ਜੇ ਕਰ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਵੀ ਸ਼ੋਸ਼ਣ ਦਾ ਸ਼ਿਕਾਰ ਹੋ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ ਤਾਂ ਸ਼ਿਕਾਇਤ ਦਰਜ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਫੇਅਰ ਵਰਕ ਓਮਬੁਡਸਮਨ ਦੇ ਦਫਤਰ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਕਰੋ, ਫੋਨ ਨੰਬਰ ਹੈ ੧੩ ੧੩ ੯੪ ਜਾਂ ਇਸ ਵੈਬਸਾਈਟ ਤੇ ਜਾਓ www.fairwork.gov.au
Read this story in English:
In yet another case of exploitation of migrant workers, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has secured $230,638 in penalties against an Indian origin trolley collection subcontractor for underpaying two migrant workers at the Bendigo Marketplace.
The Federal Circuit Court has penalised Jobanjeet Singh $40,510 and his company Joban's Trolley Collection Pty Ltd a further $190,128 for using false records to conceal more than $29,000 in underpayments in a period of six months in 2015.
The two workers from Afghanistan and Pakistan aged 32 and 29 were recent migrants and had been granted permanent residency. They had limited English language skills.
They were employed by Mr Singh’s company to collect trolleys for Woolworths' retail outlets at Bendigo Marketplace, as part of a subcontract it had at the time with United Trolley Collection.
At present, United Trolley Collection holds no contracts with Joban’s Trolley Collection and Joban no longer operates at any of the Woolworths’ stores.
FWO’s investigation revealed that the two workers were paid rates ranging from $9.73 to $19.20 an hour which resulted in underpayment of their minimum hourly rates, shift-work loadings, overtime rates and penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work. They were also underpaid superannuation and annual leave entitlements.
The probe further disclosed that Mr Singh and his company intentionally misguided the FWO by providing them with false time-and-wage records that overstated the wages the two workers were paid.
Mr Singh gave evidence that “it was never my intention to exploit or harm the interests” of the workers.
His claims were, however, rejected by Judge Mercuri who found that Jobanjeet Singh’s actions were deliberate and he in fact was “well aware that what he was doing was wrong”.
“The penalties imposed should send a message to employers in the trolley collection industry that failure to comply with their workplace obligations will have consequences.”-Judge Mercuri
Hailing the decision, Acting Fair Work Ombudsman Kristen Hannah said the penalties imposed send out a strong message that we will not hesitate to pursue any business operator “who seeks to engage in this type of exploitative conduct.”
Employers and employees seeking assistance can visit or contact the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94.
