In Australia, the WHV scheme provides incredible opportunities for their young counterparts. They hail from places such as Indonesia, hoping to discover higher wages and grasp newer opportunities. This desire for profit can pose powerful hazards, especially in the meat processing sector. Recent media reports have brought attention to the often precarious situations that WHV holders find themselves in, including serious injuries incurred while working in abattoirs. Jaya Daud Munthe and Aini Rodianto have had the courage to come forward with their traumatic testimony. Their stories have exposed the dangers lurking within this critical industry.
Mr. Munthe relocated from Indonesia to NSW in late 2024. He negotiated for higher wages to get more money in savings. His training in an abattoir quickly became a traumatic firsthand experience, as the work under extreme high-pressure conditions led to him sustaining two injuries. Aini Rodianto on her WHV from Indonesia. After being severely burned in an incident with boiling water at her workplace in Victoria, she made the decision to leave and return to studying in Queensland.
Dangerous Work Conditions
The WHV scheme, created in 1975, provides young participants from eligible countries the opportunity to work and travel in Australia. To extend their visa for another year, WHV holders must work in regional areas for at least three months in sectors such as farming, hospitality, mining, or construction. All of these professions are some of the most dangerous occupations.
Mr. Munthe talked about the difficulties he faced while working in an abattoir. There, he too was forced to pedal under an extreme and deadly pace. “My co-worker pushed the box too hard from the other side, causing the corner of the box to hit my hand,” he recounted. After his second accident, surgery was needed and he was out of work for three months.
During her time working at an abattoir, Emilia experienced an alarming incident with boiling water. “They didn’t notice, and before I knew it, the boiling water had entered my boots, which went up to my calves,” she explained. Her resulting injuries included deep burn wounds, which left her with 25% permanent burn scars over her body. These scars are a vivid reminder of the dangers of her profession.
Reporting Injuries and Employer Accountability
The meat processing industry is fraught with hazards. Alarmingly, there’s a trend in underreporting workplace injuries. Thomas Costa, the assistant secretary of Unions NSW, painted a stark picture. He underscores that employers who hire migrant workers under-report these injuries. “To avoid inspections from the regulator because they are engaging in unsafe work practices,” Costa stated.
This failure to report places construction workers’ lives in even greater danger while enabling employers to escape accountability. Companies can be fined as much as $50,000 for not notifying SafeWork NSW of serious injuries or dangerous incidents. Too often, these businesses still fly under the radar with little accountability.
Mr. Munthe sounded the alarm as well on under-reporting incidents. “Maybe they want to maintain a good track record, but if there are already too many accidents, I think they should report them in accordance with the law,” he remarked. Even though he felt his employer did wrong things, he was adamant that “the company is just as much at fault.”
Workers’ Rights and Safety Standards
Protecting the most basic element of workplace conditions is essential. NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis has reiterated that every worker has the right to return home safely at the end of the day. A spokesperson for Cotsis emphasized this right, stating, “Every worker has the right to go to work and return home safely at the end of the day.”
WHV holders are frequently misinformed about their rights prior to entering Australia. Additionally, as Anna Boucher illustrated, by educating workers on their rights, they will feel empowered to negotiate improved conditions with their employers. “Because then people are aware of these basic rights before they come into the country and can negotiate with the employer,” Boucher pointed out.
Mr. Munthe and Ms. Rodianto’s stories shed light on the mounting pressures they are under. The stakes are very high for those who step up into these challenging positions. This intense pressure for labor in essential industries such as meat processing leads to unsafe workplaces. As such, holiday workers are subjected to dangerous risks while on the job.
