The bill seeks to protect migrant workers from 'exploitative' work arrangements, among others
Amendments to migration law have been introduced in parliament that aims to strengthen protections for migrant workers and "ensure that unscrupulous competitors do not undercut law-abiding employers."
The Migration Amendment (Protecting Migrant Workers) Bill 2021 would adopt key recommendations from the Migrant Workers' Taskforce, a body that had investigated the exploitation of vulnerable workers in Australian workplaces.
In his speech during the bill's second reading, Alex Hawke MP said the taskforce's report showed that migrant workers are "particularly vulnerable to underpayment and exploitative work practices." The taskforce then recommended making a person's act "to knowingly pressure, influence or coerce a temporary migrant worker to breach a visa condition" as a punishable offence.
In response, the bill seeks to establish new offences against coercing or exerting undue influence or pressure on migrant workers to accept exploitative work arrangements. Hawke said these new offences and related civil penalties would apply to employers, labour hire intermediaries and other people involved in employing or referring non-citizens for work in Australia.
"Migrant workers make a significant contribution to Australia's labour market and are a vital part of our economy and our community. They meet skills and labour shortages and contribute a diversity of ideas and experience. Migrant...
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