Palm scheme labour hire company Linx deregistered

A Tasmanian labour hire company accused of mistreating Pacific Islander workers in the Bundaberg region and other parts of Australia has had its operating licence revoked.

The Palm scheme brings hundreds of workers to Australia and the Bundaberg region through mutliple labour hire firms. Photo Paul Beutel

A Tasmanian labour hire company which brought Palm Scheme workers to Bundaberg despite limited employment opportunities has has its licence revoked by the federal government.

The company, Linx Employment, employed hundreds of Pacific Islander workers through its program, promising consistent employment and shelter on arrival to Australia.

A statement released by the Australian Workers Union on Thursday said investigations by the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations revealed many of the workers did not get what they were promised, and often had to rely on local charities to feed themselves.

It claimed about 190 workers from around the country had come forward with complaints about Linx Employment - of those 80 were workers in the Bundaberg region.

A Tasmanian labour hire company which brought Palm Scheme workers to Bundaberg despite limited employment opportunities has has its licence revoked by the federal government. Photo Paul Beutel

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Many of the workers, who spoke English as a second language, sought out the firm in the hopes of providing financial benefits to their families in their home countries where consistent, well-paying work could be hard to find, the AWU statement said.

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“The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations is today meeting with 221 Linx workers in Tasmania, Stanthorpe and Bundaberg to arrange ongoing employment and accommodation,” it said.

More than 200 workers have already left Linx, and remain in legal limbo while they wait for new employment opportunities in Australia.

A statement from a Linx company spokesperson to the ABC said Linx Employment had operated for 10 years without negative findings.

Bargara businesswoman and human rights advocate Amanda Slade uncovered evidence of exploitation of South Sea Islander farm workers, paying $30,000 from her own pocket to keep them off the streets after they were unable to pay for accomodation.

“We proudly entered the Bundaberg market looking for space for our Pacific workers to find seasonal work when there was no work in Tasmania,” the spokesperson said.

She confirmed there were workers that had been without employment for several weeks.

“The reasons for the lack of work were sudden changes in business decisions by local employers and climatic impact,” she said.

AWU National Secretary Paul Farrow condemned Linx’ attitude to vulnerable Islanders trying to provide for their families.

“If you go to the Australian Federal Police website and look at the checklist for modern slavery you will find these workers tick a lot of the boxes,” he said.

Vanuatu PALM scheme manager Pita Foliaki Lokotui, at the Grand Hotel, Mildura, earlier this year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Mr Farrow also alleged the firm bullied many of its workers, and pitted them against each other for employment opportunities.

“Our members at Linx have told us management withhold workers’ visas, refuse to provide payslips, and resort to bullying and threats to send workers home when concerns are raised,” he said.

“Time and again our members have told stories of Linx management making excessive deductions from workers‘ pay for substandard accommodation.”

“Linx workers feel they have been treated like slaves and we are working with DEWR to find them another approved employer who will comply with Australian law.”

Linx has been approached to comment on news of the deregistration.