Empowering Migrants: Innovative Project Seeks to End Exploitation of Vulnerable Workers

Upon reaching Sydney from Colombia, Samuel Zuluaga felt fortunate to secure a position with an employer ready to sponsor his temporary work visa.

Although the 23-year-old envisioned the barber shop job as a stepping stone to a more secure future, he soon faced underpayment, missed superannuation contributions, and anxiety over voicing concerns due to his visa’s dependency on his continued employment.

“After around a year, I realized my superannuation payments had ceased,” Zuluaga shared with SBS News.

“At that moment, I didn’t quite grasp the implications. I thought perhaps it was an oversight,” he admitted.

Zuluaga hesitated to address these issues, worried it might threaten his ability to work legally in Australia.

“There was a day when I objected to being asked to clean the toilet, aware that it wasn’t part of my duties,” he recounted.

“My employer just said, ‘You are fired, pack your stuff and go home’. Just like that, I had lost my job and my visa sponsor.”

Zuluaga also alleges he was denied payment for unused annual leave because he was too afraid to take time off work.

Eventually, with support from unions and advocacy services, he recovered the money he was owed.

“This made a real difference in my life,” he said.

“It wasn’t just about the money. It changed my situation and showed me that I wasn’t alone.”

Widespread underpayment concerns

Zuluaga’s experience reflects broader concerns raised in a recent report by the Migrant Justice Institute, which found nearly two-thirds of temporary visa holders surveyed had experienced underpayment.

The report also estimated that international students alone are losing more than $60 million in wages every week.

More than a third of respondents reported working under Australian Business Number (ABN) or contractor arrangements.

Previous reports have identified limited English, poor awareness of workplace rights and difficulty accessing support services as factors increasing the risk of exploitation.

Unions NSW president Mark Morey said that, despite this mistreatment, migrant workers played a critical role in Australia’s economy.

“Our economy depends on them,” he said.

“We know in farming communities, retail, hospitality and construction, we are all short of skilled labour and workers entering the economy.”

NSW launches first dedicated support centre

The NSW government has now launched the state’s first dedicated Migrant Workers Centre to support temporary visa holders experiencing workplace exploitation, unsafe conditions and underpayment.

The centre will provide workplace, safety and immigration support to vulnerable migrant workers across the state.

Backed by $6.5 million in funding over four years, the centre is expected to support around 2,000 at-risk workers annually through culturally sensitive and community-based services.

While it’s based in Sydney’s CBD, it has additional outreach services planned for regional communities.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the service would help workers better understand and enforce their rights.

“We want every migrant worker to know that if you are feeling pressured at work, if you’ve been forced to work for less than minimum wage, if something doesn’t feel right, then you can come to the Migrant Worker Centre,” he said.

“They will explain your rights, help you through the system and make sure you get everything you are legally entitled to.”

The initiative has also been welcomed by multicultural community leaders.

Somali Council of NSW president Ubah Gabris said many migrant workers are unaware of their workplace rights or where to seek help.

“You don’t know your rights, you don’t know if you have been taken advantage of,” she said.

“What I love about this kind of space is people can actually come and talk about what they don’t know and receive advice, especially legal help or legal support.”

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