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Chinese workers ‘paid $3 an hour’

03/Aug/2009

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A PERTH construction company has been accused of paying workers from China less than $3 an hour.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has launched prosecution against Kentwood Industries Pty Ltd in Malaga, alleging that the company deliberately underpaid five Chinese tradesmen almost $250,000.

The men were recruited on 457 visas to work at sites in Perth, Kalgoorlie and Melbourne.

The Federal Court in Perth will hear that the non-English speaking workers put in up to 11-hour days, seven days a week for less than $3 an hour.

A log book kept by a supervisor allegedly shows they worked up to 77 hours some weeks.

As well as Kentwood, the Fair Work Ombudsman is also prosecuting company director Jian Yang Zhang of Dianella.

The Fair Work Ombudsman and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship started investigating Kentwood and Mr Zhang in February 2007 after one of the workers complained about his pay and conditions.

The Chinese employees received a monthly wage equivalent to about A$600 in their Chinese bank accounts.

It is alleged one worker did not receive his first pay for five months and three others had to wait three months before being paid.

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