A trucking company under investigation for alleged exploitation of international students after one of its trucks crashed into a fast food join in Wollongong this month was already reported to the police and NSW Roads and Maritime Services.
Hari Om Transport received major fault notices after its trucks were inspected and is being investigated by the Australian Border Force for underpaying international students after a truck that was being driven by an Indian international student failed to stop and crashed into two cars after crashing through a McDonald in Wollongong last Monday.
A former employee who worked as a casual driver for just under two months for the Sydney-based company last year said he reported faults including handbrake on one truck not working at all and clutch fault in the other.
“I drove two different trucks, the handbrake on one did not work at all. And the other also had faults. I reported those to the Police and the RMS in February this year,” he told SBS Punjabi requesting anonymity.
He says he is not aware of any action that might have been taken as a result of his complaint.
Following the last week’s crash, RMS Director of Compliance Roger Weeks told 2GB Radio that the truck had major defects and was issued with a notice.
“The rear axels, none of the brakes were working effectively,” he said.
The NSW Police said it inspected ten trucks belonging to the company and all vehicles received a defect notice ranging from issues with defective brakes and bald tyres to issues with seatbelts.
The former employee claims he was paid $23 flat without any overtime, allowances or penalties.
Earlier this year, he filed a court claim to recover nearly $6,000 in underpayment by Hari Om Transport.
But just a day before the court hearing, the operator of the company called him and they agreed to settle for $3,800. The former employee received a cheque which the bank refused to honour due to lack of funds in the account.
“When I called him, he kept delaying and then eventually agreed to pay $250 per week until the entire amount was paid off. He still owes me nearly $1,500 but has stopped making the weekly payments.”
The lawyer representing Hari Om Transport, Carlos Lindo, did not comment on the former employee’s allegations.
“There is an ongoing investigation. My client is co-operating with the government authorities and he is providing all the information that is asked of him and he will continue to do so,” Mr Lindo told SBS Punjabi.
