Overseas worker ripped off 20K in 3 months

An overseas worker has been ripped off $20,000 in three months by his Melbourne employer, the Fair Work Ombudsman says.

The Filipino man was brought to Australia to work as a welder, signing a contract for a 457 visa and pay of $50,000 a year for four years, the ombudsman said.

But without the worker's knowledge, the company, Reddot Brewhouse, arranged a short-stay temporary work visa instead, which allowed the employee to remain in Australia for only 88 days and reduced his wage to $36,000.