Australia: Station Owner Protests Innocence on Pay Complaints
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Tuesday, 08 November 2011 |
The owner of several fuel service stations in New South Wales says he is co-operating with an investigation into pay and conditions at his properties. Rizwan Rana told the Newcastle Herald that he was producing all records and documents relating to employees in accordance with a ‘notice to produce’ from the Fair Work Ombudsman and that he was innocent of any wrongdoing.
Mr Rana’s Rana Group controls two United Petroleum stations, and is in partnership at two other United sites along with a Shell station. Representatives of Newcastle Trades Hall Council alleged that the company sponsored people to come into Australia, then forced them to pay back the cost of their visas and live in company owned accommodation. The Rana group is also accused of heavily fining employees for mistakes, and breaching labour laws, in a complaint made to Fair Work Australia. Newcastle Trades Hall Council secretary Gary Kennedy has said that coverage of the controversy has led to two more former employees contacting the union to add to the complaints.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship said that all allegations of illegal work would be taken seriously. “This includes allegations of illegal work at service stations but for operational reasons the details of all compliance operations must remain confidential,” said a spokesman, who urged members of the public to contact the department if they had any information relating to illegal work.
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