ONE of Australia’s biggest construction companies has stirred up union anger and concerns of job losses with plans to bring in as many as 1100 foreign workers.

A letter from Leighton Contractors, obtained by The Courier-Mail, says foreign nationals will be “employed in locations dictated by the relevant project, which in some cases will be in remote locations of Australia”.

The locations included Gladstone, Townsville, Mount Isa, Bowen, Roma, Mackay, Dalby and the Northern Territory as well as regions throughout NSW and Victoria.

Leighton, which plays a huge role in the Queensland coal and construction industries, said labour shortages were a reality facing many employers.

But the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union claims it will mean missed job opportunities for tradesmen who are still finding it tough to get work

The CFMEU said as many as 30,000 building and construction workers nationally were lost to the industry during the financial crisis and many had not found another job.

“It’s a great concern because we see the sort of exploitation of guest workers that has been going on and the activities of some employers which could lead to the replacement of local labour,” CFMEU national secretary Dave Noonan said.

“If they are successful, there is a big concern it would mean 1100 missed job opportunities for Australians.”

Mr Noonan said unions were not opposed to immigration but big business was trying to dramatically change Australian migration policy and the labour market without proper debate.

Queensland’s booming gas industry is expected to need up to 10,000 construction workers over the next three years to build at least two liquid natural gas projects in Gladstone.

The destruction of thousands of homes and buildings during the floods and Cyclone Yasi is also expected to mean a huge demand for construction skills.

The jobs Leighton is looking to fill include welders, riggers, carpenters, steel fixers, crane and plant operators, auto electricians and boilermakers.

Leighton said its primary employment focus was on training and recruitment at a local and national level and continuing to offer development programs to Australian university and TAFE graduates.

“We are continuing to consult the unions regarding all planned skilled migration activity,” a spokesman for Leighton said.

However, the company said it was committed to employing and training Australians first and temporary foreign workers would only be employed when Australian workers were not available in sufficient numbers.

Employers predominantly use the 457 visa to sponsor temporary workers.

If approved as a sponsor, employers can nominate the positions they wish to sponsor by outlining the skills and experience required, the market salary rate and the salary rate to be paid to the imported worker.

Source: The Courier Mail

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