ROGUE contractors and language barriers were identified as major problems when the state government's Economic and Finance Committee launched an inquiry into the labour hire industry, with a hearing in Berri last week.
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Committee chair Lee Odenwalder said the EFC will contact unions and visit other regions affected, including Virginia and Murray Bridge, with an aim to finish the inquiry in the second half of this year.
While the committee's recommendations will not be definite until then, Mr Odenwalder said the Berri hearing sparked discussions about the pros and cons of a proper licensing system for labour hire companies and contractors.
The committee also believes state and federal agencies need to work more closely in order to protect vulnerable workers, while officials from immigration and foreign affairs, through to Centrelink, need to talk to foreign jobseekers about what their rights and responsibilities are.
"It's all about education. Educating the worker and educating the host companies who are engaging labour hire companies or contractors," Mr Odenwalder said.
Spokespeople from Safework SA, the SA Wine Industry Association, labour hire firm MADEC, and Citrus SA answered questions relating to workplace conditions, pay rates and the relationship between employers, seasonal workers and contractors.
Mr Odenwalder said the committee fully understand the importance of the labour hire industry, particularly in rural economies like the Riverland, and are aiming to weed out those that "abuse the system".
"Those that run reputable businesses are rightly annoyed that their names are being bandied around because of some rogue operators," he said.
"Most large companies, growers, pickers, wineries, will engage the large reputable labour hire firms and there is a possibility, and a lot of anecdotal evidence, that smaller businesses are engaging contractors who may or may not be paying people the right amount, may not be complying with workcover responsibilities and their tax responsibilities."
Backpacker advocate Thomas Towle made allegations of worker mistreatment, by contractors and employers in the Riverland, at the Berri hearing.
Mr Towle, a former manager at a Riverland backpacker hostel, said he believes major Riverland labour hire companies Randstad and MADEC do the right thing by workers, but was aware of issues with small time contractors who exploit foreign workers.
"They're (workers) often not paid superannuation, the tax is deducted from their payments but not forwarded to the tax office and they're underpaid," he said.
"Some of them are forced to live in substandard accommodation otherwise they don't have a job."
Mr Towle claimed to know of instances where workers were forced to stay in sharehouses with mattresses laid side-by-side, and with no basic amenities such as tables and chairs, a fridge or a washing machine.
Workers being forced to stand on the top rung of ladders and engage in other dangerous work practises were among the allegations made by Mr Towle, who said many issues are caused by a language barrier between workers, and their host employers and contractors.
"There are no signs that I've ever seen in Mandarin, Korean, Chinese or any other foreign language," he said.
"We seem to forget that our own federal laws state should go out of our way to facilitate people from other cultures. These people are our guests. They're guest workers and they're treated badly."
Mr Towle said he hoped the inquiry would result in greater control, and more checks, of contractors and host employers.
Modifications to working conditions and support of seasonal workers are already in motion, with Safework SA director of workplace education and business services Phillip Boyle saying his organisation will implement significant changes.
They are aiming to employ an additional work, health and safety inspector in Berri, a customer service officer will be located in Berri to provide information on people's WHS rights, and a mobile WHS advisor service will be implemented to provide one-on-one workplace support.
Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone said a 236-bed seasonal worker facility at Paringa, as well as the transition to custom-cut trees to suit pickers, was evidence of the labour hire industry's push to further accommodate workers' needs.
