Meat the Reality: Unpacking the exploitation of PALM Scheme workers in Australia’s meat industry, RMIT University Business and Human Rights Centre.

Moolchand, E., & Marshall, S. (2024)

A new RMIT University report exposes the exploitation faced by migrant workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme. Using a photovoice methodology, the report offers unique, first-hand insights into their daily experiences. The findings reveal that many PALM workers in the meat processing sector face severe underpayment, excessive hours, and high-cost, low-quality accommodation. Being tied to a single employer exacerbates their vulnerability, making it extremely difficult to seek better employment opportunities. The report calls for comprehensive reform to ensure that PALM workers have access to fair pay, safe working conditions, and the freedom to leave exploitative employers.

Disrespected, disregarded, and discarded: Workplace exploitation, sexual harassment and the experience of migrant women living in Australia on temporary visas 

Unions NSW (2024)

Unions NSW’s latest research highlights the high levels of sexual harassment faced by women on temporary visas, especially in insecure jobs. Many women stay silent due to fears about their visa status, unstable work, and workplace discrimination. The study shows that addressing sexual harassment alone is not enough; broader issues like immigration uncertainty and racial and gender discrimination must also be tackled to ensure migrant women are safe at work.

Community Consultation Report: Fair Work Commission CALD Community Engagement Strategy

Fair Work Commission and the Social Policy Group (2024)

The Fair Work Commission’s Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Community Engagement Strategy aims to improve access to workplace justice for migrant workers. Despite widespread workplace issues, engagement with the Commission remains low due to systemic and cultural barriers. Consultations conducted by the Social Policy Group, including input from the Migrant Workers Centre, highlight the need for ongoing engagement, trust-building, and improved communication. Addressing fears around visa and job security, language barriers, and service accessibility is key. The strategy prioritises culturally responsive outreach, third-party collaboration, and inclusive service delivery to support CALD workers.

Challenging Sexual Harassment in Low Paid & Precarious Hospitality Work

R., Beresford, R., Thomas, P., Etherington, D. and Jones, M., (2024)

This research examines the pervasive issue of workplace sexual harassment within the low-paid and precarious hospitality sector in the UK. Drawing on survey data and interviews with 11 workers, the study highlights the prevalence of harassment, which disproportionately affects women, young people, ethnic minorities, people with disability, and LGBTQ+ workers. It explores how precarious work arrangements, sexualised service roles, and deregulated labour markets exacerbate vulnerability. The research identifies barriers to reporting, including lack of clear policies, fear of retaliation, and ineffective enforcement. It calls for systemic change through trade union action, policy reform, and collective strategies to address structural inequalities in the sector.