Be Our Guests: Addressing Urgent Modern Slavery Risks For Temporary Migrant Workers in Rural and Regional New South Wales
By James Cockayne, Sophia Kagan, Fiona Ng
This report highlights significant modern slavery risks faced by temporary migrant workers in agriculture, horticulture and meat processing in rural and regional NSW. The modern slavery risks identified include debt bondage, deceptive recruiting, forced labour and, in extreme cases, servitude, sexual servitude and even human trafficking. The report examines significant vulnerabilities faced by both Pacific workers and backpackers concerning working conditions, wages and entitlements; accommodation, transport and living conditions; gendered violence and healthcare access and isolation and social marginalisation. It also highlights growing indicators that the burden of supporting these exploited migrant workers is falling on local communities and community service providers that are not adequately resourced for this task.
Recommendations
Urgently initiate a trauma-informed and worker-centred investigation of modern slavery risks faced by Pacific Australia Labour Mobility workers and other temporary migrant workers working in agriculture, horticulture and meat processing in rural and regional NSW.
Ensure relevant NSW Government frontline agencies undertake suitable training in modern slavery, as envisaged by section 19(3)(a) of the Modern Slavery Act 2018.
Advocate for the Federal Government to review the visa settings and protection requirements for temporary migrant workers in the PALM and Working Holiday Makers programs.
Complement the work of the new Migrant Workers Centre to be established in NSW, with regional migrant centre hubs.
Ensure funding and support to local actors, including to create a more active role in the monitoring of conditions and support to temporary migrant workers.
Office of the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, 2024. 33p.