Ex-workers call for George Calombaris to be eliminated from MasterChef
“Ten network; it’s George’s turn to face elimination.”
That’s how a petition for George Calombaris’ removal from Network Ten’s Masterchef show concludes.
The petition was instigated by Orlaith Belfrage, who says she worked as a waiter at Hellenic Republic for over two years until 2014, and is still owed $2,000 in wages.
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“I’ve been fighting to get back pay from my time working for Hellenic Republic for over two years,” she says.
“I sent emails, made phone calls and sought legal advice.
“Still MAdE Establishment, George Calombaris’ company, refused to pay me for all of my work.”
While Calombaris was slapped with a $200,000 fine, Belfrage says that’s simply not enough.
“Wage theft is a business model and George Calombaris has built his career on it.
“And he continues to be heralded as the “nice guy” celebrity chef and a MasterChef judge.
“He should be taken off MasterChef. Channel Ten should stop making excuses for this serial wage thief.”
Belfrage alleges it’s likely to be “way more” than 515 workers who have been underpaid, and she claims it’s “untrue that he has been cooperating”.
“Workers have requested repeatedly that Calombaris hand over records so that they can recover their stolen wages and he has not provided them with the documents they need to get their money.
“Meanwhile, George Calombaris enjoys celebrity status and is put on a pedestal as an industry leader, a reputation he has built on stealing wages from his staff.”
Chef Neil Perry is also on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s radar, and Twitter users aren’t happy about the lack of punishment for these celebrity chefs.
There's something you can do about the Calombaris scandal. Don't watch @masterchefau until they fire him. Spread the word. #blackbanmasterchef https://t.co/M4uTW8q9Df via @smh
— Mike Carlton (@MikeCarlton01) July 18, 2019
Australian Unions said nothing would change if dodgy bosses didn’t fear the consequences of wage theft.
Bosses can steal millions from workers and all they have to do is pay it back if they get caught. Nothing will change if dodgy bosses do not fear the consequences of wage theft. https://t.co/DL80hghPym
— Australian Unions (@unionsaustralia) July 18, 2019
Unions NSW was particularly bemused that Calombaris could manage his million-dollar properties, but couldn’t pay staff.
George Calombaris can manage his million $$ properties, but he can't manage to pay his staff properly?🙄 Get involved and sign the petition demanding Masterchef drop the Masterthief: https://t.co/fCdALGkgjZ pic.twitter.com/d9Fi0Vklyi
— Unions NSW (@unionsnsw) July 18, 2019
Belfrage’s petition has reached 10,392 signatures, of its 15,000 target.
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