Temporary migrant workers are recognised as being at risk of exploitation and modern slavery. Following recommendations from the NSW Anti Slavery Commissioner, the NSW parliament is holding an inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by temporary workers in rural and regional NSW.
The terms of reference state that the Committee is particularly interested in:
- the lived experience of temporary migrant workers working in agriculture, horticulture, meat processing and other sectors reliant on temporary migrant labour
- incidence, causes and extent of forced labour, deceptive recruiting, gender-based violence,
sexual servitude and labour trafficking - violations relating to wages, allowances, superannuation, leave entitlements, workers
compensation, piecework payments, such as underpayment, excessive deductions and debt
bondage arrangements - structural factors that make temporary migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation
- worker conditions and labour practices of direct employers and labour hire companies,
including the adequacy of regulations governing both - confiscation of passports and other personal identification
- adequacy of monitoring, compliance and enforcement of workplace laws, including health
and safety laws - support and resources needed by local communities, NSW Government frontline agencies
and non-government service providers to support at-risk and vulnerable temporary migrant workers, including education, training and cultural capability needs - the impact of visa settings and conditions of employment on temporary migrant workers in rural and regional New South Wales
- adequacy of interjurisdictional/cross-government cooperation and data sharing in the
provision of accommodation, medical care and other essential services to temporary migrant workers - potential protections for temporary migrant workers through State based interventions
- any other related matters.
Submissions to the inquiry are due by 31 January 2025.
