Title:
457 Visas and the Exploitation of Foreign Workers

Description:
457 Visas Video Clip: Transcript This video has been designed to draw attention to the exploitation and abuse of migrant workers in Australia. The following list of facts was compiled from various articles by the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Australian Council of Trade Unions,Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union The Age and The Herald Sun newspapers. (Bibliography at the end of the transcript.) "KNOW WHERE YOU STAND?" "The Federal Governments' 457 visa program has created conditions that encourage the exploitation of foreign workers." "FACT: In recent years, the Federal Government has cut funding for the TAFE system by nearly 24%, leaving our workforce with a shortage of skilled workers." "FACT: Since the Howard Government took office, 350,000 "skilled" migrant workers had been admitted to the country while 300,000 young Australians had been turned away from T.A.F.E. (s)" "FACT: The 457 visa program is simply a wage-cutting device, just like the rest of the Government's IR laws." "FACT: Australian workers miss out on jobs and training because it is cheaper and easier for employers to exploit people from overseas." "There have been hundreds of documented cases describing the abuse and exploitation of foreign workers." "FACT: These violations of human rights often take the form of substandard pay and conditions, with some companies providing overpriced accommodation and transport that is deducted from employees' wages." "FACT: Foreign workers are often sacked or threatened with deportation if they speak up about problems or adverse work conditions." "FACT: 457 visa holders are often inadequately trained and lack the necessary language skills to properly understand safety procedures." "FACT: Many foreign workers have injured themselves on Australian worksites. This year alone, three have been killed in work related accidents." "With up to one hundred visas being issued every day, the Government does not have the resources to effectively monitor this program." "FACT: 500 cases of alleged exploitation of temporary visa workers have been investigated this year but around half (232) of the investigations have not yet been completed." "FACT: The Government has admitted it conducts site checks on less than one in five employers. (18%)" "FACT: The Immigration Department has just 65 officers to monitor compliance with visas, which makes it impossible to police more than 100,000 visa holders." "FACT: The U.S. State Department has documented reports that for some migrant workers in Australia, "Labour conditions amounted to slavery, debt bondage and involuntary servitude." "The workplace relations system" "KNOW WHERE YOU STAND?" Bibliography: 'People Importer Wants Indemnity', AMWU Website, 15 June 2004 'Bosses Importing Workers from China', AMWU Website, 21 December 2004 'Overseas Workers Cramped In', AMWU Website, 23 February 2006 'AMWU to Address Imported Worker Issues', AMWU Website, 7 March 2006 'WA "Slavery" Hits Korean TV', AMWU Website, 16 March 2006 'Safety -- Another Visa Rort', AMWU Website, 3 August 2006 'Sacked and Evicted: Terrified Immigrant Suffers Under 'low pay' 457 Visa', AMWU Website, 15 September 2006 'Imported Labour Visas Risk Health and Safety of all Workers', ACTU Website, 15 September 2006 'Temporary Work Visas Breach More Laws', AMWU Website, 19 October 2006 '457 Visa Scandals Getting Worse', AMWU Website, 27 October 2006 '$740 000 win for ripped off 457 visa workers', AMWU Website, 10 November 2006 'New Immigration Minister, Same Old Visa Problems', AMWU Website, 1 March 2007 'More '457' visa rorts uncovered', AMWU Website, 6 June 2007 'Queensland workers complain of threats to replace them with 457 Visa workers if they don¹t sign AWAs', CFMEU Website, 22 July 2007 'IR laws and temporary migrant worker scheme are holding down wages: ACTU submission', ACTU Website, 15 March 2007 'Unions are concerned about dangerous job conditions for temporary migrant workers', ACTU Website, 26 June 2007 'APEC must address sex slavery, people trafficking and worker exploitation in Asia Pacific', ACTU Website, 30 August 2007 Moore, M. and Knox M. 'Foreign workers 'enslaved', The Age, August 28, 2007 'Employers warned over 457 visa abuse', The Age, August 28, 2007 'Food outlets raided over foreign workers', The Age, August 31, 2007Bachelard, M. 'Pact with China excludes dubious visa middleman', The Age, September 6, 2007 Written, Filmed, Edited, Produced and Directed by Adam Basile. Extra keywords: Labor Federal Election 2007 Liberal Fascist Dictator Dictatorship Totalitarian Democracy Democratic Worker Labour Labourer Censorship Slavery Exploitation Union Boronia Grass Roots Campaign Anti Establishment Politicians Police Local State Federal Government Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard Australianlabor Australia Experimental Short Film Making Documentary Guerilla Filmmaking

Author:
WordMadeFlesh

Tags:
457, abuse, ACTU, Adam, AMWU, APEC, exploitation, human, Industrial, IR, Relations, rights, slavery, Unions, visa, Workchoices, workers,