Struggling Melbourne café owner who claimed people would rather get Centrelink than work has been hit with DEATH THREATS for ‘speaking honestly’
An article on dailymail.co.uk website we have contributed to.
A struggling Melbourne business owner who claimed Australians would rather receive benefits on the dole than go to work says he has received death threats for ‘speaking honestly’.
Match & Co Cafe owner Adrian Rigotto told Today on Wednesday morning he can’t find employees willing to work for his business – and he blames the Government’s financial incentives for the lack of staff.
‘You can’t get staff in hospitality,’ Mr Rigotto said.
‘You know what they say to me on the first line, ”Hey, we don’t want your job. We’re doing this for Centrelink purposes only”.’
The Dingley Village cafe owner even decided to add a $5,000 cash incentive on his job advertisements in the hope he would be able to snap up a worker.
Mr Rigotto has now revealed to Daily Mail Australia that he was slammed for his candid comments about the hospitality industry.
‘I just had the honesty to say what how it is,’ he said.
‘When that went to air on Channel 9, I had so many death threats.
‘Why? Because I don’t want everyone to live off Centrelink.’
Mr Rigotto said his cafe was even graffitied.
He also claimed ‘smart a*** blokes’ were applying for the cafe work simply to snap up his $5,000 cash offer.
But despite the negativity, Mr Rigotto said he has also had some success stories with fresh job applicants in recent days.
A man from Brisbane contacted Mr Rigotto on Wednesday and said: ‘If you can give me a full-time job, I’ll fly down and come and meet you.’
Mr Rigotto said the Queenslander stuck to his word and arrived in the Victorian capital on Thursday.
The cafe owner said he would happily pay the man the $5,000 after he volunteered to relocate for the job.
‘Just because it’s hospitality or a cafe, doesn’t mean you don’t invest in your staff,’ he said.
‘I always invest in my staff and that’s what it’s all about.’
During his interview with Today, Mr Rigotto said he could email Premier Daniel Andrews and Prime Minister Scott Morrison the contact details of at least 50 applicants who are just after Centrelink payments.
‘I have got names, numbers, addresses of these people. They don’t want a job, they don’t want to work,’ he said.
Unemployed workers will be given an extra $50 a fortnight from April once coronavirus supplements are scrapped.
The federal government is boosting the permanent base of the dole to $620.80 a fortnight. The increase works out to be an extra $3.57 a day.
Match & Co Cafe advertised for workers on Facebook as recently as Saturday.
‘We’re looking for experienced wait staff, baristas and cafe all-rounders,’ the Facebook post read.
‘Does this sound like you or someone you know? You could win $5,000 cash if you’re successful or forward a successful referral.’
Graham Wynn, Founder and Director of Superior People Recruitment, agreed with Mr Rigotto’s claim that some Australians seemingly don’t want to work.
‘In the past two weeks, from those registered with Centrelink agencies, we have received 1,850 resumes. Of those, we have contacted only 22, as they are the only ones with any relevant experience or skills for the jobs they are applying for,’ he said.
‘Clearly, this is just people making sure they apply for any job, to continue receiving benefits.
‘We have even had resumes from job seekers, advising they are not looking work, and simply apologising for wasting my time having to read their resume, as they are only applying for jobs to continue to receive their benefits.’