Jewel Tower: Workers walk off $1b Jewel site over job uncertainty

WORKERS at the Jewel Towers site have walked off the job until their future is made clear after it was revealed the developer, Yuhu Group, will be retendering the final stages of the $1b project.

WORKERS at the $1b Jewel site have walked off the job until their future is made clear.

Work has ceased on the project until next week when Multiplex, union CFMEU and developer Yuhu Group can tell tradies if they have a job.

The Gold Coast Bulletin understands Yuhu Group has refused to speak with the union.

It comes as workers and contractors on the $1 billion-plus Jewel towers face uncertain futures with redesigns causing construction delays and fuelling job loss fears.

Some subcontractors, including Wadsworth Contracting, have stayed on site, choosing to wait until the dust settles.

Workers have walked off The Jewel site this morning. Picture Glenn Hampson

Workers met with construction union CFMEU representatives on site for 90 minutes yesterday and afterwards some left the site with most going back on the job.

One worker said: “I was told the developer was sacking the builder, Multiplex. So we’ll be finishing what we’re doing and leaving.

“I was told by my boss they’re giving us until Wednesday because of the public holiday then most of us will be getting the tap on the shoulder.”

Another said since new Chinese owners Yuhu Group took over — buying out Ridong and Wanda earlier this year — “it has been chaos” at the site.

He had heard Multiplex were losing the project’s ground-level podium aspects where restaurants, bars and lobbies would be installed.

JEWEL CONTRACTOR: I’M OUTTA HERE

The Jewel towers at Surfers Paradise are near completion.

“It’s all over the place. There are going to be a lot of job losses,” the worker said.

A Yuhu Group statement revealed developer Multiplex remained the “major project partner” but some work would be retendered, “ensuring the Jewel hotel meets and exceeds the highest of international standards”.

“The final design and configuration elements of the lower podium levels of the hotel — excluding the 169 hotel rooms — are yet to be finalised.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JOBS AFTER JEWEL SACKINGS

“As a result this work will be carried out later in the construction schedule and will be subject to new tendering opportunities,” the Yuhu statement said.

“Multiplex is of course aware of these arrangements. Construction on all other areas of the development is to continue as scheduled (under Multiplex).”

Despite new tenders, a Yuhu Group spokeswoman said local trades and labourers would be used: “Trades will still be sourced locally, it’s just a matter of timing really.

JEWEL WORKERS FACE UNCERTAIN FUTURE

The Chinese backed $1b triple tower Jewel project's amenity pool at Surfers Paradise looking right out to the ocean and leading right up to the beachfront.

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“The Jewel is about creating jobs and economic opportunity, not costing jobs. Regardless of scheduling, at the end of the day the work will still need to be done.”

Jewel remains on target for a 2019 finish.