A CHINESEguest worker, who lost an eye in a work accident, is at the centre of a hot debate about workers’ safety and their poor language skills.
Welder Chang Qing Wu, 42, came to Australia on a four-year contract under the Section 457 visa scheme. His pay was $15 an hour compared with 67 cents an hour in China.
He lost his right eye during an industrial accident at Krueger Transport Equipment in St Albans.
Now his predicament has landed him in the centre of an argument between his employer, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and WorkSafe Victoria about whether overseas workers, especially those with poor English language skills, receive enough training before starting work in Australia.
AMWUVictorian vehicle division assistant secretary David Nunns said the safety of these workers was crucial.
Mr Wu, speaking through an interpreter at the St Albans house he shares with other Chinese workers, says he left his wife and 18-year-old son behind in China to work in Australia.
In January, nine months after starting work at Krueger, he fell on a piece of metal, as a result of which he lost the eye. WorkSafe Victoria and the AMWU are investigating the matter.
Mr Nunns says he is concerned that overseas workers with no English skills on Section 457 visas have limited understanding of occupational health and safety requirements and standard operating procedures, and are placed in dangerous situations that compromise their safety at work.
“Without on-site translators, comprehensive induction programs, ongoing training, high levels of supervision and translated work instructions, these workers are at a massive disadvantage,” Mr Nunns said.
“Those individual companies that use overseas workers have a legal obligation to ensure that these workers are safe at work.”
Mr Wu said the only communication he had with other workers was via sign language.
Krueger Transport Equipment human resources manager Alisha Dixon said 26 employees from China’s metal fabrication industry held Section 457 visas.
They were employed because of a worker shortage in the industry and because of the limited numbers of experienced people in the local labour market, Ms Dixon said.
She said employing overseas workers was not a “quick fix or a short-term solution”. The company had an obligation to workers sponsored on a four-year working visa with an “intention” to employ them permanently if they sought residency status at the end of their term.
“Our overseas workers are not treated any differently in terms of our concern for their safety in the workplace,” Ms Dixon said.
“All 457 Visa holders are given an induction booklet containing company safety policies and procedures, as well as safety signage utilised on site and general company policy,” she said. The booklet had been translated into Mandarin and a translator was present to go through the booklet with the workers.
Ms Dixon said the company engaged the workers in regular health and safety meetings via a committee representing the employees. All of the processes and procedures were in line with the Occupational Health and Safety legal requirements.
Overseas workers undertook English classes weekly, with department supervisors and co-workers “utilising the interpreter on a day-to-day basis to convey on-the-job requirements”.
“We are working closely with Chang and WorkCover to ensure his successful rehabilitation by ensuring he has access to any treatment he may require,” Ms Dixon said.
“Although it may be a lengthy process we have assured the employee that his recovery is something we are keen to assist him with and that we would be more than happy to have him return to work in any capacity that his treating doctor deems suitable,” she said.
Mr Nunns said overseas workers were “afraid” to take up safety issues with management, in fear of getting the sack and being deported to their homeland.
“No-one had said Krueger is right or wrong, ultimately it will end up in court,” Mr Nunns said.
The AMWU is collecting money to bring Mr Wu’s wife over for a visit.
Mr Wu is due to receive specialist treatment on 20 March.
“This matter is a big burden to me but if possible I wish I could stay in Australia,” he said.
