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https://theconversation.com/australia-is-bringing-migrant-workers-back-but-exploitation-is-still-rampant-here-are-3-changes-needed-now-182761>
"If the COVID years have taught us anything about migration, it is that
Australia depends on it. About 7% of our workforce holds a temporary visa. When
many international students, backpackers and other temporary visa holders
suddenly left during COVID, the ensuing staff shortages revealed how vital
these workers are to the Australian workforce.
Responding to industry demands for workers, a new agriculture visa was created,
Labor has promised an extended Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme, and
international students were given unlimited work rights.
But the government elected on May 21 will inherit Australia’s dark legacy of
entrenched wage theft among migrant workers.
A recent open letter signed by 14 legal service providers, churches and other
advocacy organisations across Australia has called on the government to enact
three key reforms to address theft of migrant workers’ wages:
1. enable migrant workers to act against exploitative employers by providing
effective visa protections to whistle-blowers who report exploitation to the
Fair Work Ombudsman or make claims through the courts.
2. implement an efficient, accessible, and inexpensive claims process for
workers to promptly recover their wages and entitlements; and
3. extend the Fair Entitlements Guarantee to employees on temporary visas (a
scheme of last resort that provides unpaid employee entitlements when an
employer becomes insolvent)."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
