MEDIA COVERAGE

Law Society Journal Online | Cat Woods

MJI’s Laurie Berg spoke to LSJ Online following the release of the report “Off the Books: Inside Australia’s hidden system of migrant exploitation” in which the data reveals a dire system in which many employers systematically underpay migrants and evade the Fair Work Act.

The Canberra Times | Tom Wark

Two-thirds of migrant workers are underpaid, according to a major survey a prominent anti-slavery official is pleading becomes a wake-up call.

The Age | Annika Smethurst

The largest study of migrant working conditions in Australia has found 65 per cent are underpaid, with more than one-third earning below the minimum wage.

The Australian | Ria Pandey

The systematic exploitation of workers on temporary visas has become embedded in Australia’s labour market, MJI’s landmark new report has found.

SBS News

A major new survey - conducted by MJI - reveals widespread migrant worker exploitation, underpayment and insecure work.

ABC Gippsland | Lily Kristanto

There are concerns over the housing conditions provided for PALM scheme workers. MJI’s Laurie Berg spoke to Lily Kristanto from the ABC Gippsland to discuss this matter.

aap | Robyn Wuth

Pacific workers who flock to Australia on temporary visa are too afraid of losing their jobs to fight for better pay and working conditions.

ABC News | Scout Wallen

There are calls to expand the eligibility of a workplace justice program that allows visa holders to extend their stay while they're pursuing workplace exploitations claims. MJI’s Bassina Farbenblum spoke to Scout Wallen from the ABC to discuss this matter.

ABC News | Joe O’Brien

There are growing calls to fix the gaps in the government’s workers compensation scheme, including to extend the scheme to cover migrant workers. The Fair Entitlements Guarantee (FEG) is under review and MJI’s Bassina Farbenblum joined Joe O’Brien to disscuss this matter on the ABC News on Monday, 17 March 2025.

ABC News | Joshua Boscaini

Migrant exploitation experts call for increase to services accredited with certifying Workplace Justice Visas. Migrant Justice Institute co-executive director Laurie Berg said while the pilot was world-leading, the government needed to expand the list of partner organisations able to process claims.

HRD | Dexter Tilo

Case issues underlining migrant worker exploitation problem in Australia.

Data from the Migrant Justice Institute was quoted within article.

The Law Report | Damien Carrick

Damien spoke to one of the first exploited migrant workers to obtain the new workplace justice visa.

He also interviewed our Co-Executive Director Laurie Berg about our All Work, No Pay report.

The conversation | Laurie Berg & Bassina Farbenblum

Tragically, a deep fear of immigration consequences means most unlawful employer conduct goes unreported.

On Wednesday, however, the government officially launched a two-year pilot of innovative visa reforms that could bring these workers out of the shadows.

ABC | Gabriella Marchant and Sean Mantesso

A case brought to the Federal Court by 12 Pacific Islander female workers alleges the group was subject to persistent sexual harassment.

Laurie Berg, co-executive director of the Migrant Justice Institute, says there is a "cycle of impunity" when it comes to the abuse of migrant workers.

The Conversation | Laurie Berg & Bassina Farbenblum
New research has found that in reality, the federal “small claims” court process is virtually impossible to use without legal support.

SBS News

Australia's law system is seen as "hollow" by migrant workers, who rarely chase up underpayment from their employers, according to a new report.

The Guardian | Cait Kelly

Of the 4,000 migrant workers interviewed, over half were underpaid. Most knew this, but 9 in 10 did nothing. One went to court – but recovered none of their wages. It is not clear that wages claims are being systematically resolved via other legal forums or by the Fair Work Ombudsman, the report said.

The Conversation | Laurie Berg & Bassina Farbenblum

The widespread underpayment of migrant workers in Australia is now well-documented. The vast majority never recover the wages they are owed.

THE PIE | Sophie Hogan

A survey examining the degree to which international students are exploited while working in Australia is launching another edition in July.

CHOICE | Andy Kollmorgen

“I think that we as a society have come to expect low prices when it comes to things like fruit and vegetables and takeaway shops on sort of the lower end of the restaurant and hospitality scale. But the business model often relies on underpayment of temporary visa holders."

ABC | Katri Uibu

“University of Technology Sydney academic Laurie Berg said: "I think employers routinely take advantage of that and it actually is a business model in some industries, where employers will seek out undocumented workers in order to avoid compliance with Australian labour law."

AFR | Michael Read

“Advocates for limiting the working holiday program to one year argue the requirement to work in the regions left workers open to exploitation. A survey by the Migrant Justice Institute found that almost half of all working holidaymakers reported being paid well below the minimum wage.”

Australian Financial Review | Michael Read and Tom McIlroy

“Advocates for limiting the working holiday program to one year argue the requirement to work in the regions left workers open to exploitation. A survey by the Migrant Justice Institute found that almost half of all working holidaymakers reported being paid well below the minimum wage.”
(Subscriber only article)

Sydney Morning Herald | Angus Thompson

“University of Technology, Sydney, Associate Professor Laurie Berg, an expert in temporary labour migration, said that as of last month, there were 529,000 international students in the country. She said, according to a 2020 survey she conducted, 65 per cent of student visa holders held jobs.”

Canberra Times | Justine Landis-Hanley

“Associate Professor Laurie Berg, co-executive director of the Migrant Justice Institute, said the changes could be a ‘game-changer for stopping the exploitation of migrant workers in Australia. For the first time, migrant workers could safely address wage theft and walk away from employers who exploit them without risking their visa.”

Canberra Times | Sanmati Verma, Bassina Farbenblum, Laurie Berg, Matt Kunkel

“Research conducted by the Migrant Justice Institute in 2018 found that of the 4332 migrant workers surveyed, around three-quarters were paid less than the casual minimum wage, and yet only 9 per cent of underpaid migrants had taken action to recover their wages.

These figures cannot be explained away by visa holders' lack of understanding or workplace literacy. Nor can they be chalked up to bad-apple employers or fraudsters preying on the unsuspecting.

Rather, they are a product of the insecurity and inequality that has been built into the migration regime over years.Advocates for limiting the working holiday program to one year argue the requirement to work in the regions left workers open to exploitation. A survey by the Migrant Justice Institute found that almost half of all working holidaymakers reported being paid well below the minimum wage.”