Cramped sleeping spaces, badly maintained portable toilets and living quarters in containers and makeshift zinc huts — these were the living situations of 26 foreign workers from two construction companies over last year's January to June period. Only three portable toilets were available to the employees, and showers had to take place in an open area with hoses.
These two companies are now prohibited from hiring new foreign workers and renewing current employees' work passes. B-Construction was fined $74,000 and convicted of putting up workers in unauthorised accommodations — it also played a part in aiding Hong Xie Long to do the same thing. No stamp of approval was given from government agencies to B-Construction, but it still went on to house its workers at the Canberra Crescent construction site.