The CFMEU has called on the Federal Government to adopt the recommendations of its own Howells Report and toughen laws to deter and penalise employers who illegally employ overseas workers and undermine the job security of Australian workers.

 CFMEU National Secretary Construction Dave Noonan said reports the Government would accept in principle all the recommendations of the Report showed it was committed to cracking down on the employers of people working illegally in Australia.

 He said it was crucial that the Government move swiftly to introduce the legislation to implement all the Howells report’s recommendations early in 2012.

“We will continue to lobby the Government for tougher penalties for employers and labour suppliers who illegally employ overseas workers, to protect the jobs, pay and conditions of Australian workers,” Mr Noonan said.

 “The Howell Report and its recommendation of a maximum $10,000 fine and strict liability for employers can not be ignored. Strict liability will stop employers being able to plead ignorance as an excuse for breaking the law.

 “Awareness and education programs are no deterrent to employers and labour suppliers who deliberately flout our laws in the name of profit.

 “They exploit vulnerable foreign workers, while driving down pay and conditions and making it hard for employers who do the right thing to compete.”

 The Immigration Department’s own figures show that 16 per cent of people working illegally in Australia are employed in construction, an estimated total of 16,000 employees.

 “We know there are people employed illegally on building sites across Australia. We are concerned that these workers are often unable to speak out against exploitation, and that they are being used to drive down wages and conditions,” Mr Noonan said.

 The report finds that the Immigration Department has investigated at least ten instances of deliberate and systematic abuse of overseas residents working illegally by employers.

 “It is obvious that the current penalties are simply laughed off by these employers,” Mr Noonan said.

 “The previous Government left us with an immigration system riddled with loopholes that has allowed employers to exploit overseas workers.

 “They failed to act on this issue despite a report recommending the law be changed. The Government must make its key targets the small minority of unscrupulous employers and labour suppliers that illegally employ overseas workers. We look forward to making this point to Minister Bowen during consultations.”

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