A labor-hire company in Far North Queensland has received a court penalty of $106,430 for underpaying vulnerable visa holders working on farms. NQ Powertrain Pty Ltd admitted to breaching workplace laws by underpaying 87 visa holders between December 2018 and May 2020. The company reportedly deducted more than the legally allowed amount from the workers' wages.
NQ Powertrain hired workers from countries like Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands through the Pacific Labor Scheme (PLS) and Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP). These workers were then provided to farms near Cairns, including Innisfail, Tolga, Walkamin, Mareeba, Upper Daradgee, and Mourilyan.
Source: hcamag.com
Photo source: Dreamstime.com
