Corporate Culture: Meatworkers Ripped off in Visa Scam

Thousands of Taiwanese workers employed in Australian abattoirs are not paying tax, according to the meatworkers' union.

The young workers, in the country on working holiday visas, work for major Australian companies such as smallgoods manufacturer Primo through specialist labour hire agencies.

The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) says the workers are being ripped off, working long hours for little pay.

What is worse, it adds, is that the foreign workers are replacing local workers in towns where the meatworks is a major employer.

Veteran slaughterman Robert Baker said that in the NSW town of Scone, the meatworks, owned by Primo, employs mostly international workers.

Mr Baker has been in the industry for 20 years but lasted only three months at the meatworks before quitting over safety concerns.

He now worries about the Taiwanese friends he has made.

They will give you lots of forms to fill in, including ABN forms. When you ask them how about tax file number they say 'Don't worry about that - you don't have to pay tax, you can earn money using ABN'.

According to the AMIEU, Primo uses specialised labour hire companies to employ the Asian backpackers.

Scottwell International recruited many of the young Taiwanese through a variety of labour hire companies.

On its website, Scottwell says its principal business is the recruitment of Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean employees to work in abattoirs and slaughterhouses across Australia - now at 19 different abattoirs across three states and employing more than 1,100 people.

Ian Tam, who was recently hired by the meatworkers' union as a Taiwanese liaison officer, went undercover at Scottwell.

He says the backpackers are being encouraged not to pay tax by using ABN numbers.

"I investigated this agency. I just [pretended] I was one of them, like a backpacker looking for job," Mr Tam said.

"They give you a form to fill in, quick interview and ask you 'can you work now?'

"They will give you lots of forms to fill in, including ABN forms. When you ask them 'how about tax file number?' They say 'don't worry about that - you don't have to pay tax, you can earn money using ABN'.

"If you don't sign those documents you cannot get the job."