A workforce of mostly Chinese nationals are claiming their pay is being docked by bosses

MORE than 120 frustrated contractors have stopped work at the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment site amid an industrial dispute.

Kevin Harkins, CFMEU official, at the Royal Hobart Hospital construction site where it is alleged Chinese workers are unhappy because they are being underpaid. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

MORE than 120 “exploited” construction workers have stopped work at the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment site in an industrial dispute over non payment.

The plastering contractors, who are mostly Chinese nationals flown in from Melbourne, are fighting for up to six weeks’ of unpaid work from their employer, Accuracy Interiors.

Many of the hired labour force are short-term visa holders.

“Some of [the plasterers] aren’t members, but we’re giving all the workers our full support to make sure they get paid the money they’re owed and get paid properly from here on in,” said Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union organiser Kevin Harkins.

“We understand they are owed many thousands of dollars and some of them may or may not be illegal visa workers.

“They’ve obviously being exploited. They’re not being paid properly and we’d like to see what the Government intends to do about it.

“We think the men are well within their rights to stop work until they’re paid,” he said.

The Victorian-based plastering contractor also employs up to 40 Tasmanian workers. It’s not known whether local employees are affected.

Malaysian national Nicson Lee, 40, is working as a plasterer at the RHH. He is part of the industrial dispute taking place over unpaid work.

Contract plasterer and Malaysian national Nicson Lee, 40, said he was promised a higher hourly rate by the Melbourne-based Accuracy Interiors to work on the construction of the new inpatient precinct at the Royal Hobart Hospital, known as K Block.

“Here we’re getting paid less than we would be back there [in Melbourne],” Mr Lee said.

“In Melbourne they told me we would get a certain price, but once we got here, they say they’re not paying the tax. And that’s why we want a meeting here, not only us but all the Chinese workers.

“If you want to keep the tax, then you must pay a higher price to cover the cost of coming here,” he said.

The CFMEU said the contractors are all employed in accordance with the union enterprise agreement.

MORE: SCOMO WILL CONSIDER DEREGISTERING THE CFMEU

PEEK INSIDE RHH DEVELOPMENT

A further complicating factor is that many of the hired interstate workers may not have somewhere to sleep until the dispute is resolved.

“We understand there are a number of houses being rented on their behalf and some of the accommodation has been withdrawn by a third party,” Mr Harkins said.

Minister for Health Michael Ferguson, said the State Government expects all workers on site to be treated fairly and paid the correct entitlements without exception.

In a statement, Ben Moloney, project director of the RHH redevelopment said, “The managing contractor, John Holland Fairbrother Joint Venture, has advised today that they are aware of potential issues with the employment arrangements of their plastering subcontract, and that they are trying to verify the concerns raised.”

“The project remains on track to reach practical completion by mid-2019.”