Printer pays the price for abusing foreign workers

Dor Tu, owner of the now liquidated Melbourne printing company Aprint has been fined $9240 by the Federal Magistrates' Court after underpaying four Chinese workers last year.

The four employees were brought out to Australia as part of the 457 Temporary Business Visa scheme. Combined, Tu was forced to pay them $93,667 in wages. One employee, Jack Zhang, told the Sydney Morning Herald that as soon as his $10,000 worth of wages was paid, Tu sacked him.

Magistrate John O'Sullivan said that these breaches against employees were of a serious nature and Tu's attitude towards workplace relations laws was cavalier.

The 457 Visa Scheme has received considerable criticism recently after reports that three 457 visa holders had died in the last five months. Printing Industries CEO Philip Andersen said that the Aprint situation was very much a one-off and not reflective of other printing companies.

"This is not how employers treat their section 457 temporary migration visa employees and if you look at the comments around this case, I believe it demonstrates that this is a very isolated case," he said.

Aprint was not a member of Printing Industries and this decision proved detrimental to both its longevity and employees, according to Andersen. "One of the reasons that Printing Industries membership is so valuable to companies is that we are able to advise companies on all aspects of employments terms and staff management including the temporary visa application process and provide procedures for managing staff," he said.

Printing Industries recently employed Peter Lovell as a skilled migration adviser to assist companies with advice and applications under the 457 scheme. Andersen said that most companied using this would be unlikely to treat employees in a similar manner as Tu.

"I think this case demonstrates well the consequences of not being fully informed and seeking advice from your industry association," he said.