The Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles, has committed to a suite of reforms targeted at addressing the systemic exploitation of migrant workers. 

These include new visa protections for migrants who report workplace abuse and more flexible application of visa provisions when workers have been mistreated by their employers.

The proposed law reforms will make it a criminal offence to coerce someone into breaching their visa conditions and increase penalties for employers who are found to have exploited workers. 

Employers with a track record of exploiting migrant workers will also be prevented from hiring people on temporary visas.

Matt Kunkel, CEO of the Migrant Workers Centre, said that the changes would be a big step forward for migrant workers. 

“These changes are welcome first steps towards removing the inherent uncertainty and insecurity at the core of our migration system. Migrant workers and their supporters have been calling for these measures and are determined to ensure their implementation achieves the goal of stamping out workplace exploitation. The success of these measures will rely on a co-design process that listens to the wider concerns of migrant workers."

Every worker in Australia must be free to speak up for their rights at work. The Victorian union movement welcomes the Albanese Government's reforms.