Photo credit: the West Australian
Two people running a massage parlour in a Western Australian town have been accused of exploiting foreign workers.
Illawarra Mercury reports that the two, Yuteng Zhang and Jess Fang Ching Ting, allegedly mistreated a 36-year-old woman after she arrived in Australia last year by confiscating her passport, underpaying her and forcing her to pay off excessive debts.
They are also accused of submitting false information on multiple visa documents relating to the woman and six other foreign workers. Both appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday charged with nine counts each of presenting a forged or false document.
They are similarly charged with one count each of improper use or possession of a foreign travel document, offences relating to visa permits and internationally engaging in conduct that caused another person to enter debt bondage.
Both accused’s legal teams asked the court to vary the pair’s bail conditions to allow them or their lawyers to speak to the women for a defence statement.
However, the magistrate, Thomas Hall, declined the request.
The couple allegedly repeatedly provided fraudulent information on visa applications to try to subvert immigration laws.
“We allege they aimed to profit from exploiting vulnerable foreign workers who may be unwilling to complain because they have fewer support networks and less understanding of workers rights in Australia or the help available to protect them,” Sergeant Kevin Loermans said.
One of the other workers worked at the couple’s massage business in Kalgoorlie for three months in early 2023. The 36-year-old woman, who is a trained masseur, came to Australia after answering an advertisement in the Philippines for massage therapists to work at the couple’s business. The couple arranged a tourist visa rather than a work visa for her by submitting false details on the documents.
She was then asked to hand over her passport when she arrived at Perth airport before starting work later in the week. The pair also allegedly told the woman she would be billed for consumables such as massage oils and equipment at the business. She was allegedly not given official payslips and advised to refrain from socializing in the local community. She lived at the company.
It’s also alleged that Zhang refused to return the woman’s passport when she complained to her employees about her pay and conditions.
The case has been adjourned to August 9, and bail was extended for Zhang and Ting
