The Global Work & Travel Co. is an Australian travel company. Founded in 2008, the company provides working holiday, teaching abroad, and volunteer packages and helps travellers with travel insurance, flights, and travel visas. With three offices in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Vancouver, and London, it operates primarily in five countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
A joint investigation by CBC News and Australian Broadcasting Corporation found several dozen complaints from Global Work & Travel customers who could not find employment through the company's programs. The Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General's Office of Fair Trading (OFT) conducted a 13-month probe that led to an over $20 thousand settlement to pay back 29 customers, while Queensland's Office of Industrial Relations (OIR) levied another fine and reached a separate settlement to pay back the remaining customers.
Video The Global Work & Travel Co.
History
The Global Work & Travel Co. was founded in 2008 by Pierre Himmelmann and his son Jürgen Himmelmann. It is owned by Jürgen and his parents Pierre Caryl Himmelmann. Based in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, it has offices in three cities: Surfers Paradise, Vancouver, and London.
Global Work & Travel offers working holiday and volunteer packages targeted to people between the ages of 18 and 30. It helps travellers with flights, travel visas, and travel insurance. It provides services primarily in five countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Trips range from two weeks to one year. In 2015, it had 100 employees and served 10,000 passengers every year.
Maps The Global Work & Travel Co.
Criticism and controversy
In November 2014, the company was investigated jointly by CBC News and Australian Broadcasting Corporation, which found several dozen accusations from consumers who traveled internationally and were unable to find employment. The travellers described Global Work & Travel's high pressure sales techniques, misleading job pledges, and massive markups. Global Work & Travel reached a settlement with OFT after a 13-month probe. The company agreed to refund over $20 thousand to 29 customers.
In February 2015, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia fined Global Work & Travel and its owners $138,000 for not refunding the prior agreed upon sum to six workers they had misclassified as independent contractors. Global Work & Travel also was investigated by the Queensland's Office of Industrial Relations (OIR). OIR levied a fine on the company in February 2016 for violations of the Private Employment Agents Act of 2005. Global Work & Travel settled with OIR in March 2016 to have all charges resolved only after repayment of all fines.
References
External links
- Official website
Source of article : Wikipedia
0 Comments