Zoltan Bertok
3rd March 2010, 08:20 AM
INDUSTRIAL tensions in the Pilbara are escalating after an engineering contractor sacked 54 Australian workers at a $5.2 billion Chinese-owned iron ore project while retaining up to 70 Filipinos with similar skills.
It is understood the Filipino welders and boilermakers who were retained include temporary residents brought to Australia on section 457 working visas, as well as migrants who have been in Australia for some years and have achieved permanent residency.
Some of the permanent residents may even have become Australian citizens.
It is understood there are between 50 and 70 workers of Philippines origin at the site, in a total workforce of about 180.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/business/fury-as-migrant-workers-keep-jobs-and-australians-let-go-in-pilbara/story-e6frg2qc-1225835904562
It is understood the Filipino welders and boilermakers who were retained include temporary residents brought to Australia on section 457 working visas, as well as migrants who have been in Australia for some years and have achieved permanent residency.
Some of the permanent residents may even have become Australian citizens.
It is understood there are between 50 and 70 workers of Philippines origin at the site, in a total workforce of about 180.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/business/fury-as-migrant-workers-keep-jobs-and-australians-let-go-in-pilbara/story-e6frg2qc-1225835904562