Ahmed Fahour
Gulf Finance House CEO Ahmed Fahour speaks at a news conference held in Manama, October 14, 2009. Gulf Finance House has raised so far some $100 million for its planned capital hike of $200-300 million, Fahour said on Wednesday. Reuters/Hamad I Mohammed

Ahmed Fahour, chief executive officer of the Australia Post, has been asked to be present in the Senate for an inquiry on working visas. There were claims some delivery contractors underpay workers.

In August, Australia Post sacked contractor Baljit “Bobby” Singh. ABC released a series of reports indicating the working visa scams and exploitation of post and parcel drivers. Reports aired by the network’s 7:30 program prompted the immediate arrest of the contractor accused of running a visa scam. The Senate inquiry will also be dealing with investigation and interrogation of 7-Eleven stores and United Petroleum franchises charged for violating the labour rules.

WA senator Sue Lines, who will be leading the inquiry session, said it is the responsibility of the parent companies to look after the activities of their contractors and franchisees. “I think there’s been this business model that has been developed over how to exploit workers,” she said. Adding to it, she also stated that the parent companies hardly look after the workers closely, which results in abuse and exploitation of several labours and is done in a secret way.

Considering the involvement of the contractors of Australia Post in the incident, Lines specified, “If you are wearing an Australia Post uniform, doing Australia Post work, Australia Post has to take some responsibility to ensure that workers are being paid properly.” Subcontractors associated with post and parcel activities in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria who claimed to be underpaid exclusively spoke to ABC.

“The failure to pay awards wages and superannuation and workers’ compensation is very widespread, and it’s becoming increasingly so as overseas student labour is used more,” Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia Victoria branch secretary Joan Doyle told ABC 7:30.

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