Effective from 1 July 2024, the Strengthening Employer Compliance Act introduces rigorous measures to tackle migrant worker exploitation in Australia. These new laws are designed to curtail exploitation, enhance employer compliance, and ensure fairer outcomes in the workplace.
A key focus of the new legislation is to prohibit employers and labour-hire intermediaries from coercing or pressuring temporary visa holders into violating their visa conditions. It is now illegal to exploit workers based on their visa status, a crucial move towards equitable treatment for all employees.
The legislation addresses a broad spectrum of exploitative practices. Employers are forbidden from underpaying migrant workers or compelling them to exceed their allowed working hours. Threatening to cancel a worker’s visa or coercing them into surrendering their passport is strictly prohibited. Moreover, the laws protect workers from being forced into unwanted sexual activities or subjected to substandard living conditions, such as inadequate housing or the lack of essential amenities like water and electricity.
These protections are extended to all migrant workers, irrespective of their visa status. This includes individuals with valid work visas, those with expired visas, or those working in breach of their visa conditions. The legislation aims to shield all migrant workers from exploitation, fostering a fairer workplace environment for everyone.
For detailed information, please visit the Migrant Worker Protections page on the Department of Home Affairs website.
These legislative changes significantly impact businesses, enforcing stricter compliance and safeguarding worker rights.
For more information and to schedule an online consultation, please contact our expert team at visionaus.com.au.
