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Australia- Victorian inquiry told that labour-hire middlemen are making huge profits

23 November 2015

The Weekly Times  reports that Victorian Government began its investigation into the labour-hire industry today as the inquiry was told that labour-hire middle-men (staffing firms) are making huge margins by supplying workers to farmers.

John George, a hostel owner in Mildura, told the Victorian Government inquiry that he sourced work for backpackers staying with him with a labour-hire firm and discovered the labour-hire firms were paying the workers only half of the average horticulture wage.

The hearing took place in Mildura and did not have the input of farming groups.

The labour-hire inquiry was launched in order to investigate the practices of rogue labour hire companies and contracting abuse.

Professor Anthony Forsyth serves as the chair of the Andrews Labour Government inquiry into the labour hire industry. He told ABC Online: "We're coming to the Sunraysia area because there have been a number of media reports over the last 12 months of the mistreatment of workers, in particular in the agriculture sector."

As for when the farmers will be able to voice their input, Forsyth said, “"We have been talking to the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) and we understand they'll make a submission, and may appear at one of the other hearings we are holding around Victoria in the coming months. I am sure that the voice of farmers will be heard as this inquiry progresses and that will not cause any limitations on the evidence we hear or the findings I might make."

The inquiry is due to deliver its report on 31 July 2016.