Not Just Numbers: A Blueprint of Visa Protections for Temporary Migrant Workers

The Migrant Workers Centre, Unions NSW, the Human Rights Law Centre, Immigration Advice and Rights Centre, and Migrant Justice Institute have set out the roadmap for strong and robust visa protections for migrant workers in a new report: Not Just Numbers: A Blueprint of Visa Protections for Temporary Migrant Workers.

For too long, the Australian Government’s migration laws have put profits over people and left migrant workers systematically disadvantaged at work. Earlier this year, the Albanese Government recognised that the migration system was “not fit-for-purpose” and temporary migrant workers were experiencing a “crisis of exploitation”.

The new report contains stories of migrant workers on different visas and across the country, and their experiences at work – from wage theft to unsafe work and sexual harassment, to threats and bullying. The common thread is the lack of visa security and protection for workers to speak up about exploitation at work.

Key recommendations:

1. An Exploited Worker Guarantee, safeguarding workers against visa cancellation if they have had their rights breached at work; and

2. A Workplace Justice visa, to allow workers to remain in Australia with a secure visa to get advice and pursue action against an employer for breach of their rights.

Read Not Just Numbers: A Blueprint of Visa Protections for Temporary Migrant Workers here

Published on 2 August 2023