Reforms to support migrant worker exploitation

Mark Glazbrook, spokesperson for Global Adelaide, was interviewed by ABC Radio Afternoons presenter, Sonya Feldhoff, today. They talked about the three new protections for migrant workers that the Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles, committed to introducing:

  1. Protection against visa cancellation
  2. Flexible visa requirements for future sponsorship visas
  3. Short-term visa to bring claims for wages they are owed and hold exploitative employers to account.

Mark said that this is certainly a step forward.

“This is an ongoing challenge across a range of visas, however, more needs to be done,” he said.

He explained that, in some circumstances, a migrant worker who is being exploited may choose to stay with an employer because it will eventually get them residency. Even with new protections that allow six months to find a new role, he said that they may still be reluctant to come forward, as their goal of residency would rely on finding a job. He also gave examples of the shame and fear that some have around their situation, that won’t necessarily be solved with the new protections.

Dr Joanna Howe, Professor in Law and immigration expert, was also interviewed and said that this is a long overdue yet positive step in addressing the problem if migrant worker exploitation. She said that there would be criminal penalties for employers who exploit migrant workers. The period of time a migrant worker can have to find a new job, if required, has been extended to six months. This gives them more freedom in the labour market and removes the employee’s indenture to their original job.

There is an alignment between these protections and those recommended by Global Adelaide in our submission to the Federal Review of the Migration System. You can read the Global Adelaide submission to the Federal Review of the Migration System here.

Listen to the full interview on ABC Radio here, commencing at 1:33:37.

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