DOLE: Australia probing Taiwan firm for maltreating 10 OFWs

A Taiwanese construction firm is being investigated by Australian labor authorities for allegedly cheating 10 overseas Filipino workers of their salaries and subjecting them to substandard living conditions.
 
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the probe stemmed from the complaint lodged by the 10 OFWs against Taiwanese firm Chia Tung before Australia's Fair Work Commission.
 
Chia Tung has construction projects in Narabrie and Naora in New South Wales, the DOLE said.
 
“The workers in the project sites complained and their complaint reached the Fair Work Commission, which is now investigating the company,” said Baldoz, adding the Fair Work Commission is Australia’s national workplace relations tribunal.
 
Labor Attaché Rodolfo Sabulao, who is based in Canberra, said the 10 OFWs were deployed to Chia Tung via local recruitment firm Yang Wa between September and December 2014.
 
Yang Wa is licensed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the DOLE said.
 
Sabulao said Chia Tung management had removed the workers from their cramped accommodation as of January 28, in response to their complaint. It then transferred them to a hotel while awaiting transfer to a new boarding house.
 
He said the management also planned to repatriate them but the Philippine Overseas Labor Office called up the Immigration Office and reminded it that the workers have not waived their right to seek a new sponsor in Australia.
 
Also, he said repatriation before a grace period of 90 days may violate Australia’s immigration law, "unless the workers have voluntarily consented to their repatriation.”
 
Meanwhile, Sabulao said they have contacted the Philippine recruitment agency and informed it of the workers’ complaints, including their illegal dismissal and the plan to repatriate the workers.
 
"Yang Wa promised to send a representative to Australia to assist the workers,” he said.
 
In the meantime, he said he advised the workers to send work applications to Trevor Whiting, chief executive officer of JTC Manpower Services based in Perth for possible reemployment.
 
He also instructed them to send copies of their employment agreement with Chia Tung to a local union, which is negotiating with the Taiwanese firm. An announcement from the union is expected this week, he said. — Joel Locsin/RSJ, GMA News

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