Solar farm workers on $ 30 a day

A CONTACTOR at the Ross River solar farm project has confirmed Filipinos were employed at lower than normal pay rates as unions demand government action on “modern day slavery”.

Schneider Electric Australia said it was “very concerned” four overseas workers had been hired by an international affiliate for less pay than an Australian would receive.

The workers would be properly remunerated, the company said.

But Queensland secretary of the Electrical Trades Union Petr Ong called for immediate government intervention after they found Filipino workers were being paid just $ 30 a day on 400 class visas.

Mr Ong said the “explosive revelations” surfaced during routine union inquiries into the wages and conditions of two Filipino workers at the Townsville project and followed accounts of backpackers being bused into solar farm projects at Collinsville led by RCR Tomlinson.

The senior contractor Ross River is Downer.

“First we had unlicensed backpackers doing electrical work on low rates of pay, now we have basically slave labour where overseas workers are being paid subsistence wages and going hungry,” Mr Ong said.

In a statement Schneider said it fully supported Australian regulations and fair pay.

“Schneider Electric Australia management has taken immediate steps to respond to this isolated issue,” it said.

Schneider said the four workers would be remunerated, including any back pay, equivalent to a Field Service Technician. They would also receive a daily site allowance.

Schneider said the four workers had been accommodated in a hotel. at