Who is responsible for people here on working visa's being so low paid

[margomeoz]

I don't have a clue what the basic wage is but am sure it is more than $7 an hour.

My daughter in laws cousin is here on a working visa from Hong Kong where she owns and runs a business, she has had 3 jobs here and they have all only paid $7 or $8.

My sister is a hairdresser and her boss only hires people travelling on working visa's and they are all underpaid.

Why is this allowed?

[cherry*135]

Minimum adult wage is $16.37.

Underpaying staff isn't allowed by law. That doesn't stop people doing it though.. by paying cash they remain undetected.

The employees may not be legally allowed to work in Australia, so they aren't going to complain. If they have a working visa, perhaps they then 'overstay'  their visa and then become illegal workers so keep quiet about the low pay rate?

Business owners bringing family out from their home countries is a prime example of this.

[**meep**]

Who is responsible -

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/rights-obligations-workers.htm

[izabsmiling]

Foreign workers rights fact sheet

• Overview
• What are my minimum rights and conditions at work?
• Am I an employee or independent contractor?
• Minimum rates of pay
• Can my employer deduct money from my wages?
• Can my employer pay me in cash?
• My employer wants me to sign an individual flexibility arrangement, what do I do?
• Unlawful workplace discrimination
• Industrial activities
• Further information
• Contact us

http://www.fairwork.gov.au/resources/fact-sheets/workplace-rights/pages/foreign-workers-rights-fact-...   

[lind9650]

And peraps getting help here;

http://www.fairwork.gov.au/factsheets/FWO-fact-sheet-DIAC-457-visas.pdf

[margomeoz]

Thanks for that info I will give it to my daughter in law, her cousin has not overstayed her visa she has just arrived and has one for 1 year.

[izabsmiling]

I think depending on the visa type there may be limits on number of hours permitted to work and/or length of time permitted to be employed by one employer too ?

[cherry*135]

The underpaid workers don't want to lose their job, even though they are underpaid. They take these poorly paid jobs as it is income and won't quit the job. They are most likely casuals so if they speak out to their employer they just won't get any more work from them.

I am not excusing the employers who are underpaying them though.

[cherry*135]

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@margomeoz wrote:

Thanks for that info I will give it to my daughter in law, her cousin has not overstayed her visa she has just arrived and has one for 1 year.

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I think it is up to her to keep quitting these low paid jobs until she gets one that does pay the minimum wage rate.

Because visa workers keep working for low pay rates the employers keep getting away with it.

[cherry*135]

Fair Work Australia do do 'stings' in workplaces usually hospitality looking for employers who underpay their staff... restaraunts,cafes etc and employers do get charged. 

A lot will still get away with it though.

It is a 'culture' for some employers.. they think Aust. employment laws don't apply to them