Jewel developer Yuhu Group hosts kite festival, ignores sacked workers

THE visiting Chinese head of the $1.4 billion Jewel development - where workers are protesting layoffs ignored upheaval yesterday to “focus” on a kite festival - but Mayor Tom Tate has his back.

Workers from the Jewel development protesting at the Jewel International Kite Festival on Sunday at Surfers Paradise. Spokesman Scott Vink said instead of being inside having canapes, the Yuhu Group bosses should have been out explaining to labourers out of work what was going on. Picture: Jerad Williams

THE visiting head of the $1.4 billion Jewel development - where workers are protesting layoffs - ignored the upheaval yesterday, preferring to “focus” on Jewel’s kite festival.

Yuhu Group Australia director Jimmy Huang, 24, was on site at the triple towers, hosting a VIP reception in the Surfers Paradise beachfront Experience Centre.

Outside on the beach, about 30 labourers and tradies without jobs after a week of upheaval at the work site picketed Jewel’s family-friendly International Kite Festival.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and Yuhu Group Australia director Jimmy Huang, enjoying the Jewel International Kite Festival on Sunday at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Jerad Williams

Placards drew attention to surprise layoffs saying “What a disgrace Yuhu, show your face”.

When the Bulletin asked Mr Huang if he wanted to say anything about the on-site upheaval and confusion the past week when workers and contractors walked off the job, he said: “I just want to focus on the kite festival that is on today.”

Mr Huang didn’t mind being asked by the Bulletin about last week’s upheaval on site and workers’ uncertainty - but said he wanted to “focus on the kite festival that is on today”. Picture: Jerad Williams

When a public relations min-der stepped in to ask about the Bulletin taking notes, Mr Huang indicated he had no pro-blem with the question and said: “You’re just doing your job.”

Mr Huang indicated further questions on the site turmoil be directed to Yuhu Group’s PR.

Asked how he felt the stunning towers were looking from the beach, he said: “It looks really great, how we expected it, better than we imagined.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said if wasn’t for Yuhu Group Australia and director Jimmy Huang taking the Jewel project over earlier this year, protesting workers would have been out of work months ago. Picture: Jerad Williams

Outside, spokesman for 30 picketing workers, Scott Vink, said the group deliberately kept the protest “lowkey” because of the family-friendly nature of the beachfront kite festival. But he warned it was “the calm before the storm” and protests would pick up.

“We have come down here to let people know they are having canapes when they should be out here explaining why these guys have been sacked and why 300 more are going to be sacked next week.

Workers from the Jewel development protesting at the Jewel International Kite Festival on Sunday at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Jerad Williams

“These guys have mortgages. Our (subbies) bosses are owned millions,” Mr Vink said.

Cr Tom Tate told the VIP reception if Yuhu Group - which bought the project off Wanda and Ridong earlier this year - had not taken over the workers would have been out of jobs months ago.

Cr Tate: “Without Yuhu coming in and transitioning the ownership, the protestors today would have been out of jobs for the past six months.

“When you acquire a major property, it doesn’t matter if it’s your house or whatever, you want to spend a few dollars to put your heart and soul into the look. That is the reason for taking a pause,” Cr Tate said.

Rae De Wet, enjoying the Jewel International Kite Festival on Sunday at Surfers Paradise. Workers frustrated by uncertainty on site where layoffs loom say they kept a protest at the Kite Festival lowkey yesterday. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Yuhu want to deliver a project that is not just the best in Australia but world class because they know it’s an iconic location, iconic building. The job is postponed. The scope of work will still be there.”

In a statement, Yuhu Group has said final designs of lower podium levels of the hotel were yet to be finalised, to explain hold ups to work. The job was still scheduled to be completed on time in mid-2019, it said.