mmg.com.au

Rochester police have heard complaints from farm workers from Australia, Africa, Asia and Europe which they have passed on to Fair Work Australia.

Senior Constable Simon Pearson said it was difficult for some of the foreign workers, who could not speak English well.

‘‘All we can do is put them onto Fair Work Australia as it is not a police role,’’ Sen. Constable Pearson said.

A Fair Work Ombudsman spokesman said investigationswere under way about allegations of foreign workers being underpaid on farms in the Campaspe area.

‘‘As this matter is operational, it is not appropriate to comment further at this time,’’ he said.

Australian Tomato Growers Association chairman Bruce Weeks said district growers depended on seasonal workers and the towncould not affordo get a reputation for underpaying or not paying workers.

‘‘We can’t get locals to do the work,’’ he said.

‘‘They need to be paid the right amount.’’

He said many of thegrowers employed contractors, and the farmerswere unaware of what contractors were paying the workers.

He saithe going rate for contractors during the harvest season was between $23 and $25 an hour.

He said if picker were not receiving these rates from contractors, they needed to approach farmers directly so the difference between the two ratescould be calculated.