China`s 457 visa holders` rights claims account for a high percentage of. (SBS images)
(University of Sydney), an immigration expert at the University of Sydney, analyzed 10 years of data and revealed the true extent of violations of the rights and interests of temporary migrant workers.
Dr. (Anna Boucher), an immigration researcher at the University of Sydney`s Department of Government and International Relations, has developed the migrant workers` rights database, (Migrant Worker Rights Database), to document all available decisions on violations of migrant workers` rights, according to news site Mirage News.
"temporary migrant workers make up as much as 11 percent of Australia`s labour market, but so far few people have been able to document reports of violations in their daily life experience," Mr. Bowcher said. The recent scandal in the 7 / 11 convenience store chain and the agricultural sector has brought the issue to the center of the national immigration debate, but we lack clear evidence to understand the scope and nature of these violations. "
Balcher recently used the database to address the Australian Fair work Council (Australian Fair Work Commission) and relevant federal and state courts. 173 cases filed by 457 holders of visas (temporary work or technical visas) heard by the arbitral tribunal in 1996 / 2016.
According to the analysis, the most common violation in these cases is withholding of wages (37%), followed by unfair dismissal (15%).
"interestingly, some of the problems associated with immigrant working conditions may be more common, such as racial discrimination, which are rare," he said. Similarly, there are only a few cases of gender discrimination. "
Other important findings include:
Immigrants from China (6.5 percent) and the Philippines (7.9 percent) accounted for less than 457 visa holders, but litigation accounted for 26 percent and 13.9 percent, respectively.
The UK and India account for 20 percent of 457 visa holders, but litigation is low at 6.5 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively.
Migrants with professional qualifications are less likely to be subject to labour rights violations and therefore need to file claims.
There is a strong correlation between representation-especially through the Fair work Ombudsman`s Office (Fair Work Ombudsman)-and success.
Changes to the relevant regulations also have an impact on the number of different types of litigation.
