Worker exploitation 'rife' in Australia, says anti-slavery commissioner | The Business | ABC NEWS

By ABC News (Australia)

Community Score: 50% | 716 views | 1w

0 community ratings: null thumbs up, null thumbs down

The Trump administration recently slapped Australia with tariffs, blaming forced labour in supply chains. While the federal government hotly contests the claim, there is evidence of exploitation of workers. A new report titled "Off the Books" by the Migrant Justice Institute found chronic underpayment of migrant workers in Australia. The report covers the largest survey of temporary migrant workers in Australia, with almost 10,000 participants. It found two thirds of temporary migrant employees surveyed were underpaid. In an exclusive interview with The Business, Anti-slavery commissioner Chris Evans says worker exploitation is a systemic issue. "I think what we've got is rife exploitation at work and employment conditions not being observed and in its worst forms they show evidence of elements of modern slavery," he says. "So, if you like it's on a continuum of exploitation from simple underpayment of wages and conditions, that runs right through to coercive control where the w

Tags: Australia, abc, abc news, news, business news, finance news, economic news, economy, finance, the business, abc news australia, the business abc, modern slavery, exploitation, tariffs, underpayment, forced labour, ILO, international labour organisation, supply chains