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As a key part of the answer to the skills shortage, COSBOA believes more must be done to maintain trust in the visa system.
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Protect migrant workers from exploitation, government told
27 January 2023
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7 minute read
The government needs to protect migrant workers from exploitation due to the crucial role they play in meeting workforce needs for smaller businesses, according to the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA).
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The small business body recently told the Home Affairs Department there were too few migrant workers to meet demand and it was crucial to identify misuse of Australia’s visa program to maintain trust in the system.
The Migrant Workers’ Taskforce report said the labour market and economy would suffer if migrant workers continued to face exploitation.
“It is unfair not only to migrant workers, but also to other employees who are undercut on wages and job opportunities, and law abiding employers trying to compete on price.”
COSBOA urged the government to implement recommendations 19 and 20 from the Migrant Workers’ Taskforce report, which were included in the Migration Amendment (Protecting Migrant Workers) Bill 2021 that failed to pass parliament.
“Recommendation 19 - It is recommended that the government consider developing legislation so that a person who knowingly unduly influences, pressures or coerces a temporary migrant worker to breach a condition of their visa is guilty of an offence.”
“Recommendation 20 - It is recommended that the government explore mechanisms to exclude employers who have been convicted by a court of underpaying temporary migrant workers from employing new temporary visa holders for a specific period.”
At the time, the intent of the bill was supported but those against said it failed to provide adequate measures to meaningfully prevent the exploitation of temporary visa workers in Australia.
With continued cases of exploitation of temporary visa-holding migrants, and their fear of the adverse consequences they could face if they reported it, COSBOA urged its members to provide further input into consultation to protect an important part of the small business labour force.
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