News Brief: Unpaid Wages Scandal at Melbourne Farm Supplying Major Supermarkets
Summary
Workers on a Melbourne farm supplying Coles and Woolworths allege they are owed over $260,000 in unpaid wages from work done two years ago. Liquidators investigating the labour hire companies involved allege systemic tax fraud and large, unexplained cash withdrawals, with plans to refer the case to police.
Key Points
- Unpaid Workers: Migrant workers Tommy and Susilo (pseudonyms) say they have not been paid for over 100 hours of work during the 2023 pre-Christmas rush at Corrigan’s Farm in Melbourne.
- Scale of Debt: Court documents show at least 20 workers are owed a total exceeding $260,000.
- Labour Hire Investigation: Liquidators are probing a network of nine labour hire companies, alleging they fraudulently obtained licenses and funneled an estimated $60-$64 million in cash into the “black economy.”
- Supermarket Response: Coles and Woolworths state they take human rights seriously and have mechanisms for supply chain concerns. Woolworths calls for a national labour hire licensing scheme.
- Regulatory Failure: The Fair Work Ombudsman found extreme non-compliance in the region. Despite prior union warnings, the Labour Hire Authority licensed some of the now-accused companies.
- Worker Vulnerability: Experts highlight migrant workers on restrictive visas are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, with fear preventing them from speaking out.
- Call for Reform: Unions and academics are calling for expanded visa protections (like the Workplace Justice Visa), national labour-hire licensing, and stronger laws to hold companies up the supply chain accountable.
新闻简报：墨尔本农场拖欠工资丑闻波及Coles和Woolworths供应商
摘要
为Coles和Woolworths供货的一家墨尔本农场的工人指控，他们两年前工作的工资被拖欠，总额超过26万澳元。清算人正在调查相关的劳务雇佣公司，指控其存在系统性税务欺诈和大额不明现金提取，并计划将案件移交警方。
关键点
- 被欠薪的工人：移民工人Tommy和Susilo（化名）表示，他们2023年圣诞节前在墨尔本科里根农场加班工作超过100小时，至今未获报酬。
- 欠薪规模：法庭文件显示，至少20名工人被拖欠工资总额超过26万澳元。
- 劳务雇佣公司调查：清算人正在调查一个由九家劳务雇佣公司组成的网络，指控其欺诈获取运营许可证，并将约6000万至6400万澳元现金转入”黑色经济”。
- 超市回应：Coles和Woolworths表示重视人权，并设有供应链问题反馈机制。Woolworths呼吁建立全国性的劳务雇佣许可计划。
- 监管失灵：公平工作调查专员发现该地区违规情况极端严重。尽管工会此前曾发出警告，劳务雇佣管理局仍向一些现在被指控的公司发放了许可证。
- 工人的脆弱性：专家指出，持限制性工作签证的移民工人尤其容易受到剥削，恐惧使他们不敢发声。
- 改革呼声：工会和学者呼吁扩大签证保护（如工作场所正义签证）、建立全国性劳务雇佣许可制度，并制定更严格的法律以追究供应链上游公司的责任。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-15/wage-theft-farm-workers-victoria-corrigans-farm-khmer-community/106208768