Unions have told a Victorian inquiry into the labour hire industry there needs to be tougher regulations on labour hire companies, because an increasing number are simply going into liquidation when they cannot pay staff what they are owed. The National Union of Workers claims one former labour hire company in Geelong owes poultry workers as much as $20,000, but has gone into liquidation and the company director cannot be contacted. Tim Gooden from the Geelong Trades Hall Council said it was becoming increasingly difficult to chase other small labour hire companies suspected of underpaying staff. Mr Gooden said he had seen it twice this year, as well as at other workplaces he had not dealt with personally. “It’s becoming a very common tactic, to operate out of the boot of your car, sell workers, skim off the top, pocket the money and then when you’re challenged under the laws of the land, go into liquidation and disappear,” he said.
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