Fair Work Australia, the government industrial law agency, has ruled that the Church of Scientology broke Australian law by requiring employees to work long hours for as little as $10 a week. The church's defence was that because it is a religious entity, its workers are not employees, but volunteers.
Which all sounds a bit familiar!
The agency also found that "a significant level of control and direction was applied to workers by more senior church members who hold positions of authority". Workers accused the CoC of using "unconscionable tactics" to keep them in their work commitment.
Which all sounds a bit familiar!
FWA also called the CoC a "bureaucratised organisation" that appears to have imported practices and procedures into Australia with little regaerd to Australian workplace laws. It urged workers who felt they were being intimidated to complain to the police.
I wonder if similar grounds exist for complaint by former Bethel workers who are required to work six days a week and also perform field service to mett monthly quotas.