The exploitation of migrant workers in Australian workplaces is endemic and persistent. Academic research suggests that around 77% of international students are paid below the minimum casual hourly wage, despite over 70% knowing they’re being underpaid. However, current barriers to enforce their rights are prevalent.
This seminar will discuss the policy reforms required to reduce the levels of exploitation experienced by migrant workers, and other initiatives aimed at empowering migrants to enforce their rights, including through the Visa Assist Program lead by Unions NSW and the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre (IARC).
When: Saturday 15th October, 10:00am – 10:45am
Where: Lower Town Hall 1
Speakers
Joshua Strutt
Josh is the Director and Principal Solicitor of the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre. Josh has been responsible for the management of the Visa Assist project run in partnership with Unions NSW. Visa Assist aims to empower temporary visa holders to enforce their workplace rights through the provision of free high-quality immigration advice and assistance to union members. Josh has extensive experience in immigration law, including assisting with family visas and family reunion, refugee and humanitarian visas, protection visas, and skilled and student visas. Josh is a published author on immigration law, having written several chapters of The Immigration Kit (10th Edition), including the chapters on Partner Relationships, Bridging Visas, and New Zealand Citizens.
Dr. Elsa Underhill
Elsa is a Visitor in the Faculty of Business and Law at Deakin University in Melbourne. Her research covers workplace health and safety of labour hire employment, and more recently, the employment experience of temporary migrant workers in horticulture. She undertook the first national study of harvest workers’ wages and provided her expert opinion in the successful Australian Workers Union application for a minimum wage guarantee for piece workers in the horticulture industry. Her research has been published in Australian and international journals, and is regularly cited in government enquiries into labour hire and temporary migrant workers.
Thomas Costa
Thomas is the Assistant Secretary of Unions NSW, where his responsibilities including coordinating Visa Assist Project, which assists unions in representing and advocating for migrants. The project provides free immigration legal support and advice to migrants who are union members. Prior to his role at Unions NSW, Thomas worked as an industrial officer and lawyer with the national offices of the Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union and the Australian Workers’ Union, he has also worked as a solicitor for Slater & Gordon Lawyers and the HIV Aids Legal Centre (HALC).
Luigi Amoresano
Luigi is a migrant worker from Italy now working as an Industrial and Research Officer for the Australian Manufacturing Worker’s Union. Luigi arrived in Australia in 2014 and since then has worked and studied in Australia under a range of temporary visas. Luigi experienced firsthand the exploitation of some employers in the Hospitality Industry and Gig Economy. He became active in unions in 2016 when he started to protest employment condition in the gig economy. With the help of the Transport Workers Union and other riders, Luigi organised workers in the food delivery sector and fought to achieve better conditions. He graduated from the University of Wollongong with a Master of Maritime Policy and from University of Newcastle with a Master of Laws.
