The Law Report | Damien Carrick
Damien spoke to one of the first exploited migrant workers to obtain the new workplace justice visa.
He also interviewed our Co-Executive Director Laurie Berg about our All Work, No Pay report.
Today, the Australian government introduced world-leading visa reforms based on our 2023 proposal, Breaking the Silence, which was endorsed by over 40 organisations. A new ‘Workplace Justice visa’ enables migrants worker to stay in Australia to enforce their labour rights; while expolited workers who have breached their visa will have protections from visa cancellation while they take action against their employer.
The Guardian | Cait Kelly
Of the 4,000 migrant workers interviewed, over half were underpaid. Most knew this, but 9 in 10 did nothing. One went to court – but recovered none of their wages. It is not clear that wages claims are being systematically resolved via other legal forums or by the Fair Work Ombudsman, the report said.
The Conversation | Laurie Berg & Bassina Farbenblum
The widespread underpayment of migrant workers in Australia is now well-documented. The vast majority never recover the wages they are owed.
The Law Report | Damien Carrick
Damien spoke to one of the first exploited migrant workers to obtain the new workplace justice visa.
He also interviewed our Co-Executive Director Laurie Berg about our All Work, No Pay report.
The conversation | Laurie Berg & Bassina Farbenblum
Tragically, a deep fear of immigration consequences means most unlawful employer conduct goes unreported.
On Wednesday, however, the government officially launched a two-year pilot of innovative visa reforms that could bring these workers out of the shadows.
ABC | Gabriella Marchant and Sean Mantesso
A case brought to the Federal Court by 12 Pacific Islander female workers alleges the group was subject to persistent sexual harassment.
Laurie Berg, co-executive director of the Migrant Justice Institute, says there is a "cycle of impunity" when it comes to the abuse of migrant workers.
The Guardian | Cait Kelly
Of the 4,000 migrant workers interviewed, over half were underpaid. Most knew this, but 9 in 10 did nothing. One went to court – but recovered none of their wages. It is not clear that wages claims are being systematically resolved via other legal forums or by the Fair Work Ombudsman, the report said.
The Conversation | Laurie Berg & Bassina Farbenblum
The widespread underpayment of migrant workers in Australia is now well-documented. The vast majority never recover the wages they are owed.
THE PIE | Sophie Hogan
A survey examining the degree to which international students are exploited while working in Australia is launching another edition in July.
AFR | Michael Read
“Advocates for limiting the working holiday program to one year argue the requirement to work in the regions left workers open to exploitation. A survey by the Migrant Justice Institute found that almost half of all working holidaymakers reported being paid well below the minimum wage.”
Australian Financial Review | Michael Read and Tom McIlroy
“Advocates for limiting the working holiday program to one year argue the requirement to work in the regions left workers open to exploitation. A survey by the Migrant Justice Institute found that almost half of all working holidaymakers reported being paid well below the minimum wage.”
(Subscriber only article)
Sydney Morning Herald | Angus Thompson
“University of Technology, Sydney, Associate Professor Laurie Berg, an expert in temporary labour migration, said that as of last month, there were 529,000 international students in the country. She said, according to a 2020 survey she conducted, 65 per cent of student visa holders held jobs.”
Canberra Times | Justine Landis-Hanley
“Associate Professor Laurie Berg, co-executive director of the Migrant Justice Institute, said the changes could be a ‘game-changer for stopping the exploitation of migrant workers in Australia. For the first time, migrant workers could safely address wage theft and walk away from employers who exploit them without risking their visa.”
Canberra Times | Sanmati Verma, Bassina Farbenblum, Laurie Berg, Matt Kunkel
“Research conducted by the Migrant Justice Institute in 2018 found that of the 4332 migrant workers surveyed, around three-quarters were paid less than the casual minimum wage, and yet only 9 per cent of underpaid migrants had taken action to recover their wages.
These figures cannot be explained away by visa holders' lack of understanding or workplace literacy. Nor can they be chalked up to bad-apple employers or fraudsters preying on the unsuspecting.
Rather, they are a product of the insecurity and inequality that has been built into the migration regime over years.Advocates for limiting the working holiday program to one year argue the requirement to work in the regions left workers open to exploitation. A survey by the Migrant Justice Institute found that almost half of all working holidaymakers reported being paid well below the minimum wage.”
