Short-changed: How to stop the exploitation of migrant workers in Australia
Our summary
This report from Grattan Institute sheds light on the widespread exploitation faced by migrant workers in Australia, particularly those on temporary visas or newly arrived. It reveals that recent migrants are around 40 % more likely to receive sub-minimum wages than long-term residents — with up to 16 % paid less than the legal minimum.
The authors identify three interconnected reform avenues to address the issue. First, visa settings must reduce migrant vulnerability: for example, enabling greater job mobility, creating a dedicated “Workplace Justice” visa so exploited workers can stay in Australia while pursuing unpaid wages, and removing visa conditions that tie workers to exploitative employers.
Second, workplace and migration laws need stronger enforcement: penalties for under-payment must increase, the regulator (currently the Fair Work Ombudsman) should be renamed and resourced as a dedicated Workplace Rights Authority, and prosecutorial powers must extend to criminal sanctions for deliberate exploitation.
Third, migrant workers must be better supported to reclaim their rights: the report recommends establishing Migrant Workers Centres in every state, extending the Fair Entitlements Guarantee to temporary visa-holders, and improving access to legal and language support.
For community work professionals, the resource offers actionable evidence and guidance: it bridges structural labour-market analysis with practical reform proposals, helping design advocacy, programs and client support that recognise how visa policy, employment regulation and legal-redress systems shape migrant workers’ experiences. By connecting individual exploitation to systemic risk, the report becomes a valuable tool for anyone working with migrant communities, workforce policy, or service design aimed at fair work, inclusion and rights-based practice.