Hospo worker faces deportation in jobs crisis

A popular Top End bar worker who has called Darwin home for at least five years could be deported despite the country being in the midst of a critical worker shortage. Find out why.

The hospitality industry is rallying to save a popular bar worker facing deportation, despite the NT in a critical worker crisis.

Bangladesh-born student Miskatul Chowdhury, also known as Labib, is seeking a last-minute lifeline from the Federal Government to remain in Australia otherwise he faces deportation within weeks.

Mr Chowdhury, 27, has worked at The Tap on Mitchell for five years and has become a valuable part of the team that has stood up during the pandemic worker crisis.

He has pleaded his case to stay in Australia on social media and is hoping the NT Government will intervene.

“I have recently been to the Gold Plate award show where our Honourable Chief Minister has expressed her interest in getting more skilled workers in Darwin, especially for the hospitality industry and now for someone like me who has given his heart (and) soul to work during all the hard times has only 20 days to leave the country,” he said.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce has called on the Federal Government to back-up its talk at this month’s skills summit about resolving the worker crisis with real action on the ground.

“For all the talk in Canberra about jobs and the shortage of workers we’re being forced to say goodbye to good, hardworking people who’ve been part of the NT community for seven years,” Mr Bruce said.

“Why was Labib’s plea to the Federal Minister rejected? He’s now got two weeks to leave the country after being here for seven years in the middle of a workforce shortage when we’re crying out for workers. We need to stop enforcing some of the southern-centric anti-immigration policies in northern Australia.”

The Tap on Mitchell manager Kylie Arthur said good workers like Labib need to be retained in the Territory.

“This year we have struggled like no other I can recall in my 35 years of hospitality to fill our roster with enough staff to keep the doors open let alone with staff who are passionate about the industry and love coming to work every day, with a cheeky smile on their face as Labib does,” she said.

The Tap on Mitchell manager Kylie Arthur

“Labib has spent a significant amount of time and money to improve himself and be a useful member of the community and our business in particular.

“He has worked hard to overcome trauma and personal tragedy and progressed from a kitchen hand to food and beverage attendant through to being a bar supervisor and now a duty manager.

“In the current market where people with these skills are sorely required, we cannot understand why the decision to refuse to intervene and provide him with the relevant visa has been made.

“Like at most hospitality venues we are more than colleagues, we are a close knit family and Labib’s loss is devastating to our team.

“I feel for all the other venues who have gone through similar loses and urge the government to support our industry with the action of which they talk.”

Labib arrived in Australia in July 2015 on a Class TU student visa to undertake a Certificate III in Business at Charles Darwin University in 2016.

In 2019 he applied for a temporary student visa so he could continue on a pathway to complete a Bachelor’s degree, but his former migration agent neglected to submit a Genuine Temporary Entrant statement with the visa application, which has dogged his dreams of permanent residency in Australia ever since.

Federal Court appearances and an NT Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal hearing also applied the letter of the law and earlier this month Labib’s request for ministerial intervention fell on deaf ears at the Department of Home Affairs.

During his time in Australia, Labib completed his Cert III and Cert IV in business and also finished Hospitality Cert IV at Darwin’s International College of Advanced Education.

Earlier, his studies were disrupted when in June 2017 he was a passenger in the back seat of a car that crashed in the Rural Area.

Covid exposure sites Tap Bar Picture Julianne Osborne

With the car in flames, Labib and his friend in the back seat managed to free themselves from the overturned vehicle but could not free the driver and front-seat passenger and both burnt to death.

Mr Chowdhury suffered severe trauma from the crash and was unable to sit in a vehicle for several months after the incident, finally requiring counselling to help overcome the trauma. He also overcame alcohol issues that developed after the smash and after his father’s death in 2018, Mr Chowdhury required surgery at Royal Darwin Hospital when he was diagnosed with a collapsed lung.

“Labib has shown an eagerness and enthusiasm to remain in Australia and the Northern Territory despite a number of serous personal setbacks and we know he is a good employee who is prepared to work hard,” Mr Bruce said.

“It’s ridiculous that in a skills and workforce crisis we are even talking about deporting good workers who want to stay in Darwin.”

Solomon MP Luke Gosling’s office is looking into the case.