Australian-based Chinese language firm AIMB BQ has come under fire for exploiting an intern. The business, which forms part of media firm Ostar International Media Group, has been handed a $270,000 fine for forcing an international student intern to undergo 180 hours of unpaid work over a four-month period.
Company director Zhao Qing Jiang was also fined $8160 for failure to comply with notice to produce documents for inspectors. This is the second time Jiang has been in hot water over breaching pay requirements – in 2013 his firm’s 3CW Chinese Language Radio in Melbourne was fined for underpaying two employees by $60,000.
Judge Tom Altobelli deemed the internship unlawful as the majority of tasks required from the intern did not relate to her studies. He commented that AIMB BQ exploited the intern “in order to obtain a reduction in wage costs. The Court will not countenance attempts to disguise employment relationships as unpaid internships and thus deny employees their required minimum entitlements.”
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says the Judge’s decision sends a clear message to media firms: “We are committed to protecting vulnerable young workers as they enter the workforce and we will take action against employers who seek to exploit young workers.
"The system allows for unpaid work in some circumstances, as part of a structured learning program, for example. But the law prohibits the exploitation of workers by characterising them as ‘interns’ or as doing ‘work experience’ when those individuals are fulfilling the role of an employee. Such workers must be paid minimum employee entitlements.”
