Yee’s

工作紀實 working experience in Backpacker Imperial Hotel

這篇文章會使用中英兩種語言寫成，希望可以幫助多數背包客不會受騙。

This article would be written by two language, wish it can help more backpacker not be cheated by them.

工作地點 working place： Backpacker Imperial Hotel, Hobart.
工作內容 working title： work for accommodation, unpaid position
簡言之 in short：不要來這裡工作 DO NOT WORK HERE.

以下是詳細的狀況

今年11月中，我從Gumtree 的網站上面找到了一份打工換宿的廣告（我突然找不到那個廣告，無法附上連結），基本上的工作條件如下

1. 此工作為不給薪職位，工作的報酬為免費的住宿、網路以及洗衣
2. 每週工時12小時，至少工作2個月
3. 員工必須繳交$200押金，工作期滿後方退
4. 雇主將提供7/8人的女生宿舍床位或是4人的混合床位

到職之前我與主管確認了以上的條件，在雙方都同意的情況之下於2017年12月2日正式開始工作，並在當天繳交$200保證金。

事情原本都進行的十分順利，卻在2017年12月8日時被主管通知，要求我們所有的女性清潔工換房間，而該房間並非客房，而是一間還尚在施工的空間

經過多天主管與老闆的協調、清潔工與老闆的斡旋，結果仍是我們必須要在2017年12月14日搬入該空間

由於我無法接受這樣的安排，於是在2017年12月11日要求於2017年12月16日去職並拿回保證金，可是我獲得的回覆是無法拿回的。

經過幾天，我在2017年12月14日終於拿到老闆的電話，試圖與他溝通拿回保證金的事宜，但結果並不如預期。老闆至始至終從未接聽我的電話，也僅回應我一封訊息（該訊息並不含任何實質與保證金相關的內容）。他的回應都是直接打電話給主管，並要求主管傳達他的話語給我。

其間的溝通因為有點冗長而且我的要求都是一致的，所以就不詳述我們之間的對話了。但就在我發完最後一封措辭嚴厲的訊息之後，他向主管表示

「我（這裡指老闆）不想跟她（這裡指我）說話，我只想跟妳（指主管）說說話。…我要他明天就離開，他是一個麻煩製造者。她不受我們的歡迎，作為客人也是如此。」

（以上內容並非完全百分百正確，但大意如此）

我在2017年12月14日的晚間九點左右，主管將老闆的簡訊給我看，無奈地請我在隔天離開，這只離我正式離開的日期差一天。

這整件事情讓我感受到資方的惡意，清潔工被視為一個可替代性極高且不需尊重廉價勞力，他完全沒有思考到我們的權益。任意要求我們搬到一個尚在施工的空間，理由也十分貪婪，只是為了要在聖誕旺季時能多賣幾張床而已。

我被迫在2017年12月15日提前解職，並且在我沒有過失之下損失200澳幣保證金，這令我感到非常的不滿。後續已經到fair work諮詢，沒有意外會採取相關的行動以抵制這樣的雇主。

我在前兩天已經發在塔斯版，但還是希望可以在這邊發一個更為詳細且較不帶情緒的文章，幫助更多的背包客。希望大家不要來到這裡工作，誠心警告。天曉得你來這裡會遇到些什麼。

——-以下是英文版——

This November I decided to started my second journey in Hobart, so I applied a job ad on Gumtree (sorry I can’t provide the link, it’s not exist at the moment) and the detail is underneath

1. This is an unpaid position as a housekeeper.
2. Work for 12hr per week and last for 2 month, or 18hr per week then you can only stay for 1 month.
3. The hostel would provide free accommodation, free wifi and laundry.
4. The employee should hand $200 deposit as ensuring he will finish the commitment.
5. About the bed, worker could choose to stay in 7/8 female dorm room or 4 mixed dorm room.

I agreed with this deal and started working on 2/12/2017, but few days after, I got a notice that the boss asked all of the female cleaners to move in a room on 14/12/2017. However, that is a room which is still under construction and used to be a warehouse.

After lots of communication, the boss still stands on his word, there’s no way for negotiation. I refused to accept his rude quest so I asked to leave on 16/12/2017 and take my deposit back, that date is 11/12/2017. Sadly is my manager told me I might not able to take that money back.

Then, on 14/12/2017, finally I got the boss’ phone number. I called him but nobody answered, so I texted him and claimed my request. During our conversation (oh there’s no conversation between us, he always pass his word via our manager, I haven’t talked to him directly) he kept talking some issue which is totally irrelevant, and end up he was rage and sent his final message to my manager

" I don’t want to talk to her (here means me), I only talk to you… She is trouble maker, I want her to leave tomorrow. She is not welcome, neither as a guest."
(this is not exactly what he said, but the meaning is the same)

So, I was forced to go on 15/12/2017, just one day before my officially leaving day.

I went to fair work for consulting my issue, here is what they said

1. working for accommodation is not under legislation, the only payment for work can only be money, otherwise is all illegal.
2. asking for work deposit is not under legislation either.
3. send them an formal email to claim my request again, if they ignored your message, report it to the fair work website. They will do the further investigation and figure it out the truth.

After this drama, I can finally understand how pity world the labour faced. The employers can do whatever they want, but we couldn’t do anything. Their behavior should be correct under justice.

BTW, the only reason why my boss asked us to move into that room is he want to sell more beds in the busy Xmas season. That’s it.

Please, if anyone read my article, please don’t work for this hotel. You don’t know what are you going to face and how ugly future will be. Besides, if you’re not a worker, please don’t choose this hotel when visiting Hobart, there still have many good and cheap accommodation you can stay. Don’t let them earn from you.