REALLabor has called on the Government to talk less and act more to crack down on worker exploitation, following the Fair Work Ombudsman report revealing widespread exploitation of backpacker labour.

Federal Member for Blair asked how many examples of worker exploitation it will take to prompt the Turnbull Government into action.  

“The Fair Work Ombudsman report reveals widespread underpayment and exploitation of subclass 417 working holiday visa holders with 28 per cent of respondents who had won a 12 month extension to their visa, not paid for their work,” Mr Neumann said.

“The exploitation of backpackers on working holiday visas along with the exploitation of 7-Eleven workers has been ongoing for years and Australians have rightly been appalled by this systematic exploitation of workers on temporary work visas. 

“The Turnbull Government has announced yet another taskforce, the Migrant Workers Taskforce, to look at the issue of worker exploitation, but it doesn’t matter how many taskforces the Government announces, without government legislation we will continue to see this disgraceful abuse of workers’ rights.”

Mr Neumann said for more than three years the Abbott-Turnbull Government has had the chance to legislate changes to ensure workers do not get ripped off.

“They failed to do that and their election policy was a lame attempt to trick Australians into believing they care about protecting Australian workers.

“Labor believes the temporary work visa system must have robust safeguards in place to protect all workers and must not be used as a back door avenue to source cheap labour.

“No matter how a person is employed or which visa a person holds – skilled temporary work, student or working holiday – all workers must be treated with fairness and respect.”

This includes providing significant additional resources for greater monitoring and enforcement aimed at both visa sponsors and visa holders.

All Australians benefit from an economy that is productive and growing, but it is important that Australians can get access to local jobs and temporary workers are afforded proper pay and conditions. 

“Workers always come last under the Liberal Government.

“There might be a media release or a taskforce but there’s never a change in law that benefits workers.”

Mr Neumann said Labor has introduced legislation to prevent workers being exploited. 

Labor took to the election plans to ensure the temporary work visa system prioritises Australian jobs and addresses temporary worker exploitation; to licence labour hire firms; and to allow workers to pursue franchisors for wage underpayments.

“It is only Labor that will put people first, strengthening and protecting workers’ rights at work,” he said.