Sixteen deaths in Australia’s troubled seasonal workers program since pandemic began

The 16 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic were in contrast to zero recorded between 2018 and 2019 and three between 2017 and 2018. In total, since 2012 there had been 30 deaths of workers on the two visas, which allow Pacific Islanders to work in regions with labour shortages – often on farms picking fruit and vegetables. The federal government was refusing to provide details on many of the deaths, but it was understood at least seven of the 16 deaths were linked to road accidents.

The most recent, which occurred last week, was a suicide.

The family of Silas Ufiau – a seasonal worker from Solomon Islands who was killed in a car accident in April – has called for more regulations around the program and better education for those coming to Australia about the culture, working conditions and road rules.

Ufiau’s cousin, Redley Raramo, said his death had devastated the family. “It was really sad. To have him gone that way,” Raramo said. He said his cousin had wanted to make enough money in Australia to build a house for his wife and son, now one.

 

“For him, his aim was to go and work for his family. His wife has lost all her dreams … She’s yet to come to terms with the reality of the situation.” Raramo was supportive of the program but said the governments needed to help make sure seasonal workers were prepared for life in Australia, including better road safety lessons.

There had been recent accusations of unfair pay, poor working conditions and employers making huge deductions on pay, including some charging $14.80 a week for water.

Raramo said there were critics in the Solomons that argued it was modern-day blackbirding, but that it would be better for everyone if they were proven wrong. “That is why I am putting across these recommendations, to see that it is a win-win situation at the end of the day.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, which runs the biggest seasonal worker visa, said there had been 25 deaths since the program started in 2012. “None of the deaths have been determined to be a direct result of a workplace accident. “The department does not release information related to individual worker welfare, including individual causes of death. However, the major causes included vehicle accidents and pre-existing health conditions.”

Shane Roulstone from the Australian Workers Union said to stop the death rate from climbing even more there needed to be widespread driving training and rules to force employers to address driver fatigue. “Some employers have good intentions and good driver education programs, but they’re not the majority,” he said.

Most workers were transported to farms in buses driven by a seasonal worker, who then did a 12-hour shift in the field before getting back behind the wheel to drive everyone home, he said. Workers were charged around $40-$80 a week for their transport costs, but the driver had this fee waived.

He said the department of skills and employment currently offered to pay for a week-long training course but some employers were reluctant to put workers through it. “It takes them out of the production line for the best part of the week,” Roulstone said. “I’ve said to the department, you should subsidise the wages as part of the skills training, so they go and get to do a proper driving course.”

 

Dr Rochelle Bailey from the Australian National University had interviewed 500 workers over the course of the pandemic. She said there were lots of reasons for the spike in deaths, not just road accidents. “We had an increase in the number of workers, we’re going to have an increase in the number of incidents,” she said.

Many of the workers currently in Australia had been stuck here for the course of the pandemic and were mentally and physically exhausted, Bailey said. There were serious barriers to workers seeking medical help. “Especially with a lot of the workers moving around and going to different farms, they’re not confident in talking to their employer they don’t know,” she said. “Covid has exacerbated a lot of mental and physical health issues.”

She said there had been an increase in accidents at work because of worker tiredness, and many employers were “concerned”. “They would like to get them home, so they can have a break and see their families,” Bailey said.

The Sydney lawyer Stewart Levitt was building a class action against the government over the program. Workers were meant to receive $900 a week for their work, but Levitt said this was rare and some were left with only $300 a week after their employers made excessive deductions. This could include $200 a week to share a shipping container or room with six other people, he said.

“They’re paying through the nose to live with six people in one bedroom, with an outdoor toilet,” Levitt said. “We have payslips where people are being charged $14.80 for water.” He said workers were subjected to “substandard and inhumane conditions” but many were too scared to come forward.

In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org