Joaquín works just one day a week in Australia, earning €128 for eight hours moving bins between residential buildings. He spends much of his shift driving with air conditioning and music, and says no English is required for the role.
Joaquín spends his Wednesdays in Australia behind the wheel of a company car, moving rubbish bins between residential buildings and earning 211 Australian dollars—about €128—for an eight-hour shift. According to his own account, most of his working day is spent driving between addresses, enjoying air conditioning and music, with only brief periods of physical effort required to move the bins themselves.
His job, as he explains in a video, is not to collect or empty the rubbish, but to prepare the bins for municipal collection. Each Wednesday begins at the company office, where he receives a car and a list of addresses with instructions for each location. His main task is to bring out the bins scheduled for collection or return them inside once they have been emptied.
Routine and Responsibilities
Joaquín clarifies that his role is distinct from that of a garbage collector. He does not drive a collection truck or handle waste directly. Instead, he is responsible for moving the bins to and from designated spots, a task that varies in difficulty depending on the building. In some cases, the bins only need to be moved a few meters; in others, he faces steep ramps or heavy, full containers.
Despite these challenges, Joaquín describes the job as manageable, largely because of the time spent driving between stops. He notes that the physical demands depend on the building layout and the weight of the bins, but the overall workload is balanced by the autonomy and downtime during the shift.
Pay and Working Conditions
For each eight-hour day, Joaquín receives 211 Australian dollars after taxes, which he estimates as roughly €128. This works out to about 26.38 Australian dollars per hour, or around €16 per hour. Working only one day a week, his monthly earnings would total 844 Australian dollars, or about €512, if he completes four shifts. He points out that this is not a full-time salary and should not be compared directly to more demanding or higher-paying jobs, such as those in mining.
Language and Accessibility
One notable aspect of the job is that it requires no English language skills. Joaquín manages his route using a list of addresses and instructions, focusing on driving and moving bins rather than communication. However, he cautions that this may not apply to all similar roles in Australia, as requirements can vary by employer and location.
Joaquín is careful not to present his experience as an idealized version of working abroad. He emphasizes that while there are simple jobs available that allow for savings, emigrating can also mean accepting difficult or physically demanding work that one might not consider at home. His story offers a realistic glimpse into a specific type of employment available to newcomers in Australia, highlighting both the advantages—such as autonomy and minimal language barriers—and the limitations, including variable physical effort and modest pay.
For those considering work in Australia, Joaquín’s experience illustrates the diversity of available jobs and the importance of understanding the specific demands and rewards of each role.
