Indian woman says Australian boss exploited her after her husband got cancer.

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Harjinder estimates she is owed more than $60,000 in unpaid wages.

Harjinder has complained to the Fair Work ombudsman, which will contrinue to investigate her claim although she and her husband have left Australia. Photograph: LuapVision/Getty Images/iStockphoto
▼ Harjinder* kept working, even when her pay didn’t come. She kept working even when her husband was diagnosed with liver cancer.
The couple is now forced to return to India, despite Harjinder being owed, she alleges, more than $60,000 in unpaid wages. She is worried her husband will not be able to access critical drugs and treatment available in Australia. But they have no choice. The price for migrant workers complaining about exploitation, when visa sponsorships are controlled by employers, is a one-way ticket home.
Harjinder found retail work in Queensland with an employer who had agreed to sponsor her for a 187 visa, a migrant program for skilled workers in regional areas.
“He said I will pay you full wages and superannuation but he never did, he never paid me a dollar,” Harjinder said. “He said he will pay me later, pay me later but never paid me.”
“Now he is asking me for money, for money if he wants to process my application. He is a cancer patient, my husband, we have no money to pay him.”
Harjinder estimates she is owed more than $60,000. She kept records showing her working hours – mostly 7am to 7pm with an extended break in between – for about 19 months. Her notes also show frequent trips to the hospital to be with her husband. She believes the employer took advantage of her husband’s cancer diagnosis, which meant she had to miss shifts for which she was not being paid.
“He asked me to pay him cash and then he will put in my [visa] application. He knows [my husband] needs good treatment in Australia.” (▪ ▪ ▪)

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Srinivas1939

Exploitation and ill treatment of migrant workers is a worldwide menace though relatively less rampant in countries like Australia.Though no ready solutions are available the role of the Indian missions in the country and the Indian organisations is important in the context in arranging for legal aid and negotiating settlements.There are instances of such problems being resolved in the middle east through the intervention of local Indian associations.

dushazmi

Sad situation, but how much truth and how much blackmailing, yet to be differentiated.