Backpacking in Australia (especially fruit picking, etc.)
Hi all,
I've just been home to visit my mum over Easter, she grows grapes. She's been telling me stories about how backpackers come into town, and then get scammed.
- Hostel owner dictating when/where you can work
- Very bad living conditions
- Getting paid VERY low rates for the work done (an example was $14 per day, it should be $14 per hour - maybe not exactly those numbers, but definitely on that scale)
- Taxes & Super Annuation not being paid
- Breaking visa conditions & being raided / deported
I've heard these stories for years.
If you plan to come to Australia & backpack around, do your research. If you plan to become a resident, this is VERY important.
My mother knows she does the right thing, even so far as to let people into her house unattended so you can use the bathroom. She pays the right wages, submits the right tax forms.
She was shocked / surprised / amused when her most recent employees were taking photos because she provided "morning smoko" (tea/coffee/food at break & lunch times). Apparently it was the first time they'd experienced it since working here. Usually they would have to get by on their VERY low wages, or food/accomodation would be docked from their pay FIRST.
It is NOT cheap to live in Australia, and if you get scammed it will only be 100x worse.
I'm not saying don't come here. Please do. Your work is beneficial to yourselves and the people you work for. Just be aware that scamming DOES exist and CAN be VERY bad.
https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/znwy5e/australia-is-a-ground-zero-for-backpacker-exploitation https://www.fruitpickingjobs.com.au/my-mildura-nightmare/ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-28/inquiry-accuses-mildura-businessman-of-backpacker-sham/7973906 https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/mildura-has-gained-a-notorious-reputation-for-backpacker-exploitation-says-filmmaker/news-story/5dd6ecb2f8d7fbfba7571240c8de1d63
Submitted April 24, 2019 at 08:43AM by AcceptableOccasion http://bit.ly/2DvtiRw
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