BACKPACKERS working in Nyah West have supported the government’s campaign to clamp down on those deliberately exploiting seasonal workers.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has issued a warning to growers, hostel owners and labour hire contractors after they received fresh complaints about backpackers being lured to regional centres by dodgy labour-hire operators.
The Guardian last week reported on the plight of two Northern Irish backpackers who became victims of a rogue hostel operator in Mildura.
The pair were conned to the tune of $450 in “work search” fees, while they were paid $2.50 per hour for the work they did do.
Belgian backpacker Johanna Jacqmin said it was a shame that backpackers who travelled to rural areas were treated so unfairly.
She believes a lot of the farmers rely on backpackers and they should have the respect they deserve.
“I was very lucky because I found good work straight away, but I’ve heard some very bad stories about people and they really need to do something because people are getting scammed all the time and it’s unfair,” she said.
It’s a view shared by English backpacker Tomas Jones, who said it was a good thing that the ombudsman was stepping in.
“I think it’s definitely a good thing,” he said.
“Most people I know that do the farm work seem to get ripped off, it’s very difficult to find fairly paid farm work.”
For more on this story, pick up a copy of Wednesday’s Guardian (January 14).
