Skip to content
Political, Union

Unions NSW embraces migration reforms, but more must be done

Unions NSW 2 mins read

The Government’s new skilled visa framework makes it easier for migrant workers to leave exploitative employers and provides clearer pathways to permanent residency, but to fight exploitation the restriction on hours worked by international students must be lifted, according to Unions NSW.

Dependency on employers to maintain migration status has been a primary driver of migrant exploitation, Mark Morey, Secretary of Unions NSW said.

"Ensuring migrant workers can leave unscrupulous employers is a game changer. We routinely see migrant workers put their physical and mental health at risk because they are terrified that reporting their employers could result in them losing their migration status. This reform is a profound step forward.

“However, further change is needed. We will continue to push to lift the restriction on working hours for international students, and abolish the farm work requirement for working holiday makers, which have been key drivers of migrant worker exploitation.

“To continue restricting the number of hours international student can work ignores the cost-of-living crisis which is hitting temporary migrants hard. For example, we recently received a report of an international student residing in a tent in a living room for $300 a week. We also receive numerous accounts from backpackers being forced to pay exorbitant rental prices for substandard accommodation provided by their employers”.

“Additionally, there is abundant evidence of the exploitation experienced by backpackers on Australian farms. Workers are not just severely underpaid but frequently injured and sexually harassed. We urge the government to abolish the farm work requirements to protect those on working holiday visas”.

Visa Assist, a program supported by Unions NSW helps migrant workers who are reluctant to report abusive employers for fear of losing their job, having their visa cancelled and being deported.

The experience of Carlos, a worker who sought assistance from the program highlights the human impact.

Carlos arrived in Australia in 2004 on a student visa and was eventually sponsored by a hotel as a chef. He experienced severe workplace exploitation, including underpayment, bullying and harassment. The abuse escalated to the point where he was hospitalised and diagnosed with PTSD. Carlos felt trapped because he knew that he needed his employer to maintain his visa status. The new visa settings will empower workers experiencing situations like Carlos to speak out against their employer and facilitate the finding of new employment with fairer working conditions.


Contact details:

Nick Lucchinelli 0422 229 032

More from this category

  • Government Federal, Union
  • 03/11/2024
  • 08:08
Australian Services Union

Frontline workers rally for pay rises

Community and disability services workers across NSW are gearing up to rally for fairer pay and career growth as part of a national week of action (Nov 4-10). At least two in three community workers are underclassified meaning they are not earning a salary that reflects their duties, skills, experience and qualifications. The issue is emerging as a key campaign for the Australian Services Union ahead of the federal election. ASU NSW & ACT secretary Angus McFarland said: “For too long, community and disability support workers have been overworked, undervalued and underpaid. "Everything is progressing for community and disability support…

  • Medical Health Aged Care, Political
  • 30/10/2024
  • 13:22
Massage & Myotherapy Australia

Have the NDIS reforms thrown the baby out with the bathwater?

The Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), revealed an extensive range of issues involving abuse of the NDIS funding rules across many services. There is no doubt that the new NDIS Supports Rules, which now seem to limit funding for disability health and wellbeing services to Medicare eligible AHPRA registered practitioners, are there to curb spiralling costs and the abuse of the system. Ann Davey CEO, Massage & Myotherapy Australia said, ‘Before the changes, qualified remedial massage therapists and myotherapists (qualified massage therapists) provided reliable services to thousands of NDIS clients who depended on them to maintain health…

  • Oil Mining Resources, Political
  • 30/10/2024
  • 06:52
Mining and Energy Union

MEDIA ALERT: 500 mineworkers to rally outside BHP AGM in Brisbane this morning

Rally 9-10am Royal International Convention Centre (Brisbane Showgrounds) near Gregory Terrace and Costin Street Press conference: approx 9.45am featuring Mining and Energy Union leaders and workers Hundreds of mineworkers will rally outside the BHP AGM on Wednesday 30 October calling on the mining giant to stop fighting ‘same job same pay’ ahead of the new laws coming into effect on Friday. 500 mineworkers meeting in Brisbane for the MEU’s National Convention this week will rally to send a message to shareholders and executives that BHP’s unfair work practices and use of in-house labour hire Operations Services must stop.Contact details: Monique…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.