Migrant exploitation exposed
Print
A recent survey has brought to light the alarming scale of sexual harassment faced by migrant women in Australian workplaces.
Conducted by Unions NSW, the report highlights a culture of silence and exploitation across multiple industries, where visa dependency leaves women particularly vulnerable.
The study surveyed more than 3,000 migrant women and found that over half had experienced workplace sexual harassment.
The construction industry reported the highest incidence, with 82 per cent of respondents detailing harassment. Other affected sectors included horticulture (53 per cent), hospitality (51 per cent), retail (50 per cent), and cleaning (41 per cent).
“Migrant women are facing sexually suggestive comments, intrusive questions, unwelcome touching, and inappropriate physical contact. This is reprehensible. It has to stop,” Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey said.
He noted that many women arrive in Australia seeking opportunity but instead encounter systemic exploitation.
The report highlighted significant barriers to reporting harassment.
Fear of employer retaliation and visa implications was widespread, with three-quarters of affected women opting not to speak out.
In cleaning, 67 per cent cited visa concerns, while construction workers followed closely at 64 per cent, alongside 60 per cent in retail and 58 per cent in horticulture. Half of the respondents feared losing their jobs if they reported harassment.
These fears are not unfounded, as many women shared experiences of being fired, forced to resign, or having their shifts reduced after defending themselves.
For some, leaving unsafe jobs was the only option. The data revealed that 48 per cent of women in construction and horticulture left their jobs due to harassment, while similar patterns emerged in hospitality, cleaning, and retail.
Interviews conducted alongside the survey provided harrowing insights.
A 19-year-old international student described how a restaurant manager drove her to a secluded location and propositioned her for sex in exchange for work shifts, forcing her to flee the car. Another woman recounted cleaning for an employer who appeared naked, prompting her to escape in fear of assault.
The report urges comprehensive reforms to protect migrant women, including the establishment of worker centres to provide legal and emotional support, along with increased education on workplace behaviour.
Other recommendations focused on removing visa conditions, such as the 88-day farm work requirement, and strengthening government programs like the Workplace Justice visa to address the power imbalance between employers and vulnerable workers.
