By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Dandenong-based recycler – and contractor of Greater Dandenong Council – is under investigation for alleged wage theft from asylum seekers.
Polytrade Pty Ltd is being investigated by the Fair Work Ombudsman after allegations of unsafe worksites and wafe theft of about $1 million were raised by the Australian Workers Union (AWU), as recently reported in The Age.
The company processes kerbside recycling for several councils, including Greater Dandenong which has made a nation-leading stance on behalf of asylum seekers.
AWU state secretary Ben Davis said the majority of the 40 alleged underpaid workers were Tamil refugees and asylum seekers.
Polytrade has announced an internal investigation into all of its several labour and contractor service providers.
It also refuted “any suggestion that our sites are unsafe or not compliant”, a spokesperson said.
“In the past 12 months, our sites have been inspected by WorkSafe Victoria, the EPA, fire safety inspectors and by local councils where we operate.
“Recent EPA inspections of the Dandenong South and Hallam plants in September this year found ‘no non compliances were observed which required follow-up action’.”
Greater Dandenong Council has led a multi-council Back Your Neighbour campaign for the Federal Government to halt its cuts to Status Resolution Support Services payments to asylum seekers.
Its mayors Youhorn Chea and Roz Blades have chaired the Local Government Mayoral Taskforce Supporting People Seeking Asylum.
“Naturally we’re very concerned to read about (the allegations),” Cr Blades said.
“We’ve got to wait for the results of the inquiry.”
Councillor Matthew Kirwan said he was advocating for Greater Dandenong to directly approach Polytrade, similar to what was resolved by City of Yarra on 8 October.
“Wage theft is a crime and as a Council we should not tolerate our suppliers being involved in it.
Cr Kirwan said that any situation where people seeking asylum may be being exploited was intolerable, as: “They have been likely driven to undertake such jobs and be open to exploitation due to the SRSS cuts that this council has taken such a strong stance against”.
Greater Dandenong acting chief executive Paul Kearsley said the City of Greater Dandenong is “a city that welcomes all”.
“We are officially recognised as a Refugee Welcome Zone and we continue to advocate strongly for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
“Council is aware of the accusations made against Polytrade and is awaiting the findings of the investigation.
“Council is unable to provide any further comments at this time.”
Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the Government was encouraging the AWU to pursue its wage theft concerns through the “appropriate avenues”.
She said state agencies such as the EPA, WorkSafe, CFA and MFB were working collaboratively to ensure the recycling sector “lifts its standards in all respects including workplace safety and fair work outcomes”.
The government was also committed to laws stamping out wage theft, Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“Workers deserve fair pay for a fair day’s work and they shouldn’t be exploited.”
A Work Safe spokesperson said the workplace safety authority was “making inquiries”.
