New measures will protect migrant workers at risk of exploitation with the Albanese Government announcing a plan to enforce labour rights of temporary visa holders and crack down on Australian employers who attempt to exploit migrant workers.

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles has termed the situation “a crisis of exploitation” which reflects one in six recent migrants paid less than the minimum wage.

The changes, to be introduced to parliament in coming weeks, will increase penalties including making it a criminal offence to coerce someone to breach their visa conditions.

Associate Professor Bassina Farbenblum from Migrant Justice Institute and the University New South Wales Faculty of Law and Justice explained more on what these protections could mean.

Image: Image courtesy of Unsplash: Tim Mossholder

Produced By: Emma Wotzke

Featured In Story: Bassina Farbenblum – Co Executive Director at Migrant Justice Institute – Associate Professor at The Faculty of Law and Justice of the University of New South Wales is a law school

First aired on The Wire, Thursday, 8 June 2023