Fair Work Inspectors and Australian Border Force officers visited about 40 businesses
Businesses employing migrant workers in Sydney were subject to surprise on-the-ground inspections this week to check compliance with the Fair Work Act.
Fair Work Inspectors and Australian Border Force (ABF) officers have visited about 40 businesses in Sydney's Blacktown, Cabramatta, Chatswood, the Hills District, Hurstville, and Parramatta.
The businesses inspected are from the fast food, restaurants, and cafés sector, as well as some in hair and beauty, and health services, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman. These are businesses employing sponsored visa holders under the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa programme.
The inspections reviewed time and wage records, pay slips, and recent job advertisements to verify that migrant workers are being paid correctly and that employers are complying with the Fair Work Act.
The inspectors also checked if previous non-compliance had been addressed by employers.
"Our message is clear to employers: do the right thing and abide by your obligations," said John Taylor, ABF Commander Field Operations and Sponsor Monitoring, in a statement.
"Don't exploit vulnerable workers or abuse our visa regime — there is no excuse and the consequences could be severe."
Criminal penalties under migration laws include up to two years of jail time and/or a fine of up to $118,800, according to the FWO.
"Migrant workers play a key part in the economy. There is no place in Australia for employers who exploit them," Taylor said.
Educating employers, employees
In addition to checking compliance, the joint operation also educated employers about their obligations under the Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance) Act, which took effect last year.
Employees of the businesses were also informed about recent changes to workplace laws, such as the right to disconnect.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said migrant workers are often unaware of their workplace rights or unwilling to speak up if something appears wrong, making them vulnerable to exploitation.
"It is crucial visa holders know that they have the same workplace rights as all other workers, and protections for visas exist if they call out workplace exploitation. We urge workers with concerns about wages and entitlements to reach out to us," Booth said in a statement.
The FWO and the Department of Home Affairs, where the ABF is under, have been carrying out these surprise visits to check compliance among businesses employing migrant workers.
