This Research and Policy Brief considers migration frameworks that would enable migrant workers to safely speak up, leave abusive employers without losing their visa, or temporarily remain in their country of employment at the end of their stay in order to recover the wages they are owed and hold abusive employers to account.

A case study of recent advances in the United States which enable migrant workers, including undocumented workers, to remain in the country for up to two years with work rights in order to pursue unpaid wages and other labour claims.

Led by the Migrant Justice Institute and Human Rights Law Centre, the Breaking the Silence proposal urges the Federal government to establish whistleblower protections that would enable migrant workers to report exploitation without risking their visa.

Migrant workers are routinely subjected to wage theft throughout the world. Most unpaid workers will never recover their wages because government and business systems fail them.