I know, that every Friday for the past few weeks, since this new job started I've been banging on about the draconian new job that I've got.

This week I learnt some new practice. My company just employed 3 green back Vietnamese programmers who are working on site for maybe a few weeks, before they head back. I don't know a whole lot about them, who they are or where they are from, other than they are not from here, and they are just doing normal run of the mill 'urgent' debugging on projects we have going.

Today, I was brought into a meeting where we were told that we need to give these guys jobs to do, as they are working all weekend. One of the local programmers in the meeting said that it takes him up to 4 hours to explain problems and how to test and solve them. He said he was not confident that they could understand and do it properly. It was suggested by my employer, that if they are unable to solve a list of problems we give to them in a certain amount of time we just send them back.

This has to be un-Australian and I reckon it's illegal.

I'm not up with Australian law on these kind of practices, but it sounds wrong. I've got no idea - could be legit for all I know. But it doesn't sound right, I don't want to be a dobber, but at the same time the whole situation upsets me.

Do I just quit this job, or should I dig a little deeper?

I'm so tempted to mention gangnam style and stuff but I reckon some people here will go into a homicidal rage




Seriously though - I don't understand your question? Ignore the fact they are Vietnamese, or foreign workers from anywhere on a 457 (?), or whatever they are. If I am reading it right -
Your boss said give them work that is commensurate with the position and and if they can't do it he will sack them. What is wrong with that?

adolf said...

Mark _australia said...
I'm so tempted to mention gangnam style and stuff but I reckon some people here will go into a homicidal rage




Seriously though - I don't understand your question? Ignore the fact they are Vietnamese, or foreign workers from anywhere on a 457 (?), or whatever they are. If I am reading it right -
Your boss said give them work that is commensurate with the position and and if they can't do it he will sack them. What is wrong with that?

I don't know about 457 - I'll look that up. But it was my understanding that if you employ people to work in Australia you have to abide by certain awards and conditions.

Working 7 days a week, 8 hours a day isn't anything I'm used to in Australia - no idea what they are getting paid. But I'm willing to to take a punt that they are not staying at the Hilton, eating three course dinners and are being paid the going programmer rate.

457's are foreign worker visas Ol - but there are "hoops" employers have to hop through to gain them ... the workers have to be paid and enjoy minimum Aust standards for sure , but there has to be proof that there aren't or isn't already appropriately skilled labour available here just for one

adolf said...

BulldogPup said...
457's are foreign worker visas Ol - but there are "hoops" employers have to hop through to gain them ... the workers have to be paid minimum Aust standards for sure , but there has to be proof that there aren't or isn't already appropriately skilled labour available here just for one

Interesting. I guess in my industry a minimum is fudgy thing, but surely it can't mean working 7 days a week?

After that meeting, I was invited to another meeting where I and others were asked if we were prepared to work over the weekend. There was no mention of reward or any detail etc - just the question.

Personally, I've got no problem working overtime with adequate notice and with some sort of explanation as to why it was needed, it would also be helpful to know details of rewards for doing so - but there was nothing forthcoming.

I declined.

We have several Saudi trainees arriving where I slave shortly Ol - thats how our mob got them in here , as trainees not with the intent of taking full-time permanent Australian resident employment .... I would rather train up a local kid that could do with that skillset rather than someone I'll never encounter again or who will boost another country up - but thats just me & my 2c

Adolph I am still confused - basically what is the question?? You seemed to think the o/s import workers are ill treated, but now you are talking about weekends.

You are aware some people work weekends in Oz?

If they are only here for a few weeks, as you said, maybe they are doing 7 days a week for those few weeks and getting paid really bloody well. You did say urgent debugging, and to me urgent means get it done quick with no breaks...

Sounds like a simple case of the boss has no faith in their ability and brought you all in to look for ammo to sack underperformers. Nothing wrong there...

Mark _australia said...
Adolph I am still confused - basically what is the question?? You seemed to think the o/s import workers are ill treated, but now you are talking about weekends.

You are aware some people work weekends in Oz?

If they are only here for a few weeks, as you said, maybe they are doing 7 days a week for those few weeks and getting paid really bloody well. You did say urgent debugging, and to me urgent means get it done quick with no breaks...

Sounds like a simple case of the boss has no faith in their ability and brought you all in to look for ammo to sack underperformers. Nothing wrong there...

I think the company should employ Australians. I believe the only reason they have shipped them here to work is to save money - I can't think of another reason. I haven't seen much in the way of generosity so I very much doubt that they are getting paid really bloody well. There are plenty of people in Australia who can do their job. The devs who are training them have suspicions about their ability and are reluctant to waste their time on them.

I think it may be a good thing Adolph

The company obviously called you guys together as they have seen the foreign workers may be a problem. Given it was a short contract, and they have not performed, you can feel a bit more secure about your job??