A recent publication has underscored a rising issue in New South Wales related to contemporary slavery. The study specifically points out the precarious condition of Pacific laborers and transient workers in various industries throughout the rural and regional areas of NSW, who are exposed to elements of modern slavery.
Modern slavery constitutes a diverse array of exploitative practices, such as debt enslavement, forced labour, sexual exploitation, and trafficking in persons. Pacific employees and wandering workers engaged in numerous sectors in NSW are increasingly subjected to deceptive recruitment, indentured labor, forced employment, sexual exploitation, and human smuggling, as illustrated in the recent study.
The study, released on Wednesday by the Office of the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, focuses predominantly on the conditions of transient migrant workers employed in the rural and regional spaces of NSW. The study identifies the evolving crisis of contemporary slavery as intrinsically complicated due to various factors.
The report emphasizes the complexities of overseeing industries such as agriculture, horticulture, and meat processing, which have been identified as hotspots for modern slavery. These sectors employ a considerable share of susceptible migrant laborers, making regulation extremely difficult.
The regulation challenge is further compounded by the extensive number of employers, the widely spread geographic locations of the worksites, and the seasonal nature of the work, particularly in the agriculture and horticulture industries. There is also a significant dependence on labor supply companies in various areas including NSW, ACT, Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland.
These labor contracting companies are outside the purview of dedicated regulatory systems. In addition, locations employing Working Holiday Makers (WHMs) generally do not necessitate registration, making it hard for both federal and state governments to identify the employers’ precise locations and identities.
Further complications arise due to the visa limitations for Pacific Labour Mobility Scheme (PALMS) workers, who are not permitted to switch employers during their stay in Australia. This restriction puts them in a precarious position and exposes them to potential exploitation.
Approximately 70 percent of the PALMS workers in NSW are categorized under the ‘long-term’ stream, with contracts extending up to four years. The option for a PALMS worker to shift to another employer is tightly controlled, only possible at the behest of the initial employer or at the discretion of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
Sophia Kagan, a leading policy adviser on labor migration with the Office of the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, and co-author of the report, points out that female transient migrant workers are especially exposed to the issue of contemporary slavery, increasing their vulnerability.
The report also draws attention to the fact that due to the minimal support or intervention from the state, the responsibility of assisting these laborers has been shifted onto local communities and community-oriented service providers. These entities struggle to provide adequate support due to resource constraints.
To navigate and tackle this escalating modern slavery crisis, the report suggests several measures such as adopting a trauma-sensitive and worker-focused investigative approach; ensuring comprehensive training for NSW government frontline agencies; revaluating visa conditions and requisite protections; conceptualizing regional migrant center hubs; and channeling funding to support local participants.
A survivor of modern slavery and advocate, Moe Turaga, shared his insights. He stated that numerous people come to Australia with high hopes of finding superior job opportunities and establishing a better future for their families, but they are often met with stark realities that overturn these expectations.
As per his observations, a significant number of individuals are currently being deprived of their basic rights. He asserts that it is critical to have more stringent regulations and supportive systems to truly make NSW a hospitable destination for guest workers.
In conclusion, this new report on emerging slavery rings alarm bells about the treatment and exploitation of migrant workers, particularly from the Pacific. It calls for more effective oversight, better local support, a re-evaluation of visa conditions, improved training, and front-line agency preparedness. The goal: to ensure migrant workers’ rights are upheld, their treatment is fair, and their contribution is recognized.
Rising Modern Slavery Crisis in NSW Strikes Alarm appeared first on Real News Now.
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