David Cousins and Allan Fels processed hundreds of claims of underpayment before they were removed

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The two men 7-Eleven chose to make sure exploited workers were paid have slammed the company for sacking them.

Dr David Cousins and Prof Allan Fels processed hundreds of claims of underpayment before they were sacked on Wednesday, with 7-Eleven choosing to bring the independent process in-house.

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Cousins said 7-Eleven tried to take control of the process as the number of exploitation claims rose, despite promising it would be independent and anonymous.

“The company was spooked by suggestions it might have to pay out in excess of $100 million,” Cousins said.

“It started to push back on very large determinations and sought to have a direct influence on the claims determination process.”

That included demanding the names of workers – many of whom were threatened with deportation unless they worked for half pay – despite telling the media and the Senate the process would be anonymous.

Fels also lashed out at 7-Eleven on Wednesday, saying the company was trying to get out of paying back workers.

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He believes most of 7-Eleven’s 20,000 workers over the past decade have been underpaid by about half.

New chief executive Angus McKay has told the media 7-Eleven would continue to pay back “valid” claims, after he said workers had been trying to defraud the company.

So far 421 workers have been paid $16.7 million since the process began eight months ago, with another 1931 being assessed and a further 1400 about to start.

“[7-Eleven] has shown itself again to be untrustworthy, this time in not adhering to the commitments it gave at the outset as to the operation of the panel,” Cousins said.