The stark and disturbing revelations over the past weeks of the squalid and third world living conditions of some foreign workers has, in effect, seen our chickens come home to roost.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While stories and media images of the exploitation of foreign workers suggesting many on 417 visas were routinely underpaid and overworked at processing plants were rife, the accusations to some extent were at a distance from Tamworth.
Over the past 18 months there has been much reported about exploitation of employees. Recently it was suggested labour hire companies were to blame, and that the big processors, including Baiada, one of the biggest employers in Tamworth, were among those allegedly not paying foreign workers their lawful entitlements.
This week the tide has turned and the focus is on our own backyard.
Perhaps it was only a matter of time. But the shock has now hit home – not just a workplace issue but a social crisis.
Baiada is no stranger to criticism when it comes to employment practices. The company is not a media favourite and never has been what you’d call a gregarious corporate citizen with a high public profile and a friendly relationship with its community. It has been always something of a reclusive, free enterprise giant that goes about its business in a forensic way.
Its investment in Tamworth is absolutely huge, but its social capital profile is small.
Our report of the professed living conditions of some foreign workers will shake the bones of even more people.
You might question whether a tiny bedroom inhabited by six adults should concern us. In fact some might argue the living conditions of under privileged others in our community are no better or that it could be more of a cultural thing as well.
Over-crowded accommodation and hot-room living might not worry those involved. It might in fact be an individual choice to save money. But we need to determine that issue.
Refugee advocate Eddie Whitham says it’s up to our community to get together and say that it is not acceptable in this country or in this town.
Tamworth mayor Col Murray reckons it is not the sort of thing that we expect to see from our corporate citizens.
But if some of the stories are to be believed there are up to 500 migrant workers in Tamworth, mostly Asian.
While the employers need to address the problem, so do the rest of us. We should demand the social ramifications of a workplace culture be addressed.
