From: "Margaret" <margaret-AT-rie.net.au> Subject: AUT: asylum seekers to work on Nauru Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 16:44:41 +1000 webcast newsTrouble ahead when the refugees reach Nauru? by Cassandra Murphy 3:59pm Tue Sep 4 '01 The Afghan asylum-seekers will be "put to work" (that is, manual labour) on Nauru, according to an Australlian Associated Press report. The report does not say whether the work will be paid or voluntary it does not say whether the workers will have unionised conditions. (Perhaps they could be employed making sportswear for Nike?) Boat people 'will be put to work on island' >From AAP Brisbane Courier Mail web site, 04sep01 THE Pacific island nation of Nauru may put its contingent of Afghan boat people to work building a swimming pool and planting trees. The tiny republic has agreed to take the bulk of the Australian-bound asylum seekers who were stranded on board the Norwegian freighter MS Tampa off Christmas Island. The more than 430 asylum seekers have been transferred to the troop ship, HMAS Manoora, which will take them to Papua New Guinea for transfer to Nauru and New Zealand for refugee processing. Nauru's Melbourne-based Solicitor-General Kerry Smith confirmed today that the 288 boat people expected on the island may be asked to take part in a community service program. "We don't want these people getting bored and getting into trouble whilst they're there so its better to keep them busy and keep them working - giving them a work ethic," Ms Smith said. "It will improve everybody's lifestyle and it will certainly give them something to do instead of standing around all day and doing nothing. "At least they will be productive and it will be a positive thing for them and for the island." The legality of putting the asylum seekers to work is being checked with international law and would have to be passed by the Nauru cabinet. Ms Smith said the plan had the support of Vice President Remy Namaduk. "In Australia where there are hunger strikes, fights and people trying to break out - it is effectively jail," Ms Smith said. "(On Nauru) these people are not treated as prisoners as such but they are brought into the community to assist in being able to rejuvenate the island." Nauru, which measures just 21 square kilometres, is the smallest republic on earth and is facing major environmental and economic challenges as its prime industry, phosphate mining, nears an end. Ms Smith denied the asylum seekers would be effectively turned into slaves. "If they want to stay in a lock-up type situation I'm sure that Nauru could accommodate it, but I'm sure that everybody would want to work and to contribute after the kindness that the Nauruan people have shown them." SOURCE: http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,2764502%255E421, 00.html www.iww.org For A World Without Bosses --- from list aut-op-sy-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005