A NSW parliamentary inquiry has found that thousands of temporary migrant workers in rural and regional New South Wales risk exploitation, with some experiencing conditions amounting to modern slavery.
The inquiry, launched after the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner’s landmark report Be Our Guests, examined the treatment of the temporary migrant workers who play a vital role in agriculture, food processing and other regional industries.
The inquiry uncovered cases of unsafe workplaces, poor living conditions, underpayment, coercion and serious barriers to seeking help. Witnesses described how some workers became trapped in exploitative arrangements because their visa conditions tied them to a specific employer, making it difficult to leave abusive situations without risking their ability to remain in Australia.
“Everyone who lives and works in Australia deserves to be treated with dignity and afforded safety at work, no matter their visa status,” commented Dr Joe McGirr MP, the chair of the inquiry.
“Sadly, the evidence before this inquiry has shown that in some cases, visiting workers have been subjected to exploitation and in some cases, abuse.”
The committee has made 31 recommendations to reduce modern slavery risks and strengthen protections for temporary migrant workers.
The inquiry heard repeated concerns that exploitative employers often go unpunished. The committee urged the NSW Government to introduce a labour hire licensing scheme and adopt stronger monitoring and compliance measures.
Healthcare access was another concern. Many temporary migrant workers face high upfront medical costs, inadequate insurance coverage and difficulties accessing healthcare providers in regional areas. The committee recommended expanding Medicare eligibility to temporary migrant workers and improving health services in rural NSW.
Workers who want to report exploitation often face obstacles – fear of losing employment, language barriers and limited knowledge of support services. The committee recommended increased funding and specialist training for frontline organisations, government agencies and service providers tasked with identifying and responding to modern slavery.
