Labour hire workers are treated like second-class citizens at Central Queensland coal operations, a Senate inquiry on job security has heard.

Rockhampton-based pump crew operator Chad Stokes was among the individuals giving evidence yesterday on behalf of the CFMEU.

“I’ve been in labour hire … for seven years. There just aren’t any permanent jobs being offered anymore,” he said.

“I work the same roster and shifts as the permanent workers on my crew. I have no job security. I get paid less and it’s really hard to take time off.”

Mr Stokes said he would like to see a same job, same pay standard for labour hire workers.

“Most importantly, I think the mine operators should directly employ more workers,” he said.

“When you’re a labour hire you’re treated like a second-class citizen. You are given the worst jobs and could be let go at any time.

“At my coal mine, more than half the workers are employed through labour hire rather than directly employed.”

Witnesses also included CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland president Stephen Smyth – a third generation coal miner with more than 33 years in the sector.

“I see on a daily basis what insecure work is doing to the industry, but particularly to the people who are in insecure work – both from clearly a lack of job security right through to the health and safety implications, which I think sometimes get missed when we talk about insecure work,” he said.

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Mining equipment operator Wayne Goulevitch, who began his mining career as a labour hire employee a decade ago, told how the make-up of site workforces had changed.

“Back then pre-strip crews were made up of 40 full-time employees and about five labour hire workers,” he said

“Labour hire were at the time being used as supplemental labour to backfill full-time employees away on holidays, off sick or on maternity leave. This is, I believe, justifiable and acceptable use of casual labour.

“Somewhere along the way a decision or lack of decision meant that within 10 years labour hire had ballooned to about 120 workers, while full-time employees remained around 40.

“Clearly when casuals outnumber full-time employees two to one, supplemental can no longer be used as a word to describe labour hire.

“My crew hasn’t had a full-time employee join our team in over seven years.”

The Senate Select Committee on Job Security is tasked with inquiring into and reporting on the impact of insecure or precarious employment on the economy, wages, social cohesion and workplace rights and conditions.

A public hearing today is set to include a mining industry panel including the Minerals Council of Australia, Anglo American, BHP and Rio Tinto. The Isaac Regional Council and Moranbah businesses and other local organisations are also due to give evidence