The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union has called on the government and the Coalition to reject the possibility of bringing in Chinese labourers outright, construction division national secretary Dave Noonan said.

“Why would a government deny job opportunities and training opportunities to their own people by allowing foreign companies to bring in their own workers?” Noonan said.

Executive vice-president of the Chinese Mining Association Wang Jiahua last week suggested Chinese-owned mining companies could bring in Chinese workers to Australia and employ them under their terms.

“The CFMEU is also concerned for the welfare of these workers who will be completely at the mercy of their employers,” Noonan said.

“We have fought long and hard so that all workers in Australia are covered by our laws, our standards and our conditions.”

The Chinese Mining Association has asked for a relaxation of 457 visa laws so that they can bring in workers and then send them back to China when they are no longer needed.

“This is simply a move to bring in workers who are paid less and who are open to exploitation,” Noonan said.

“If we start down this path will the Australian people get any benefits at all from the resource we all own?”

Noonan said the CFMEU had welcomed the reforms by the government in June that saw a tightening of the 457 visa system.

“We believe that these reforms are necessary to curb the rorts and to make it fairer for workers in Australia who are missing out on jobs,” he said.

“We call on Mr Rudd to reaffirm his commitment to the government’s reforms.

“But we are troubled by comments that Tony Abbott has made in relation to 457 visas — that they will be the mainstay of the Coalition’s immigration program.

“We call on Mr Abbott to reject this proposal outright if he is serious about standing up for Australian jobs.”