Ex Costa employee on “woeful” housing and working conditions

An ex-supervisor for Australia’s largest horticultural company has condemned the employer’s treatment of Tongan fruit workers in Tasmania. But another worker has a very different view.

AN former-supervisor for Costa Group has condemned the employer’s treatment of Tongan fruit pickers and packers as investigations into their “woeful” living conditions continue.

The ex-employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said she had to quit her role at one of the company’s berry farm facilities due to extreme distress.

She said other senior staff would “belittle” and “threaten” workers. She said they also “yelled at, berated and abused” pickers and packers.

She said there was low pay, with deductions made to cover debts from flights and housing.

“These guys scared the life out of me,” the worker said.

“I made a connection with these people (overseas pickers), they’re really nice people.

“Then one morning, I had a meltdown and I could literally not go back.”

However, a spokeswoman from Costa Group said the leading grower had “nothing to hide” and treated all employees fairly “regardless of where they come from”.

“We do not condone or tolerate abuse of any kind,” she said. “We encourage any of our workers, be they local or seasonal, to raise with us any concerns they might have about working conditions on our farm or to do so with the Fair Work Ombudsman.”

RELATED: WORKFORCE AT NINE MILE BLUEBERRY FARM SET TO DOUBLE

The claims come a week after 70 seasonal workers were evicted in an Emergency Order from a five-bedroom Shearwater house, while 20 workers were allegedly living at a three-bedroom home in Beer Street, Wesley Vale.

But one of the residents, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed there were only 10 inhabitants on the Beer Street property.

“It’s all lies,” he said. “We didn’t have any complaint about anything because we have everything we need and we are all happy.”

The seasonal assistant supervisor said he was “happy” with his treatment by Costa.

TODAY’S NEWS: DIVISIVE SOUTH ARM PROJECT TEES OFF | ROSNY HILL APPEAL LODGED | CALLS FOR STATEWIDE REN REVIEW

Latrobe Mayor Peter Freshney said the council has run “intense” investigations. “We are making a submission to a senate inquiry into the seasonal workers program to express our concerns that what we’re seeing is not isolated to our municipality,” he said.

Fruit Growers Tasmania CEO Peter Cornish said any “isolated problems” within the Pacific Seasonal Worker Scheme must be fixed so that individuals, growers and the overall industry could continue to benefit from the program.

Labor State spokeswoman for Workplace Relations Michelle O’Byrne said the alleged exploitation was “concerning”.

For more, see the Talking Point online