Today, the Australian parliament passed an important law decriminalising undocumented workers and confirming that workplace protections apply to all workers regardless of their migration status.

The law also strengthens the accountability of employers that exploit migrant workers, and takes the first step towards visa protections for exploited workers who take action against their employers.

Together with our allies, MJI has developed and been campaigning for these reforms for many years.

IMPORTANT NEW PROTECTIONS FOR UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS

• The new law repeals the criminal offence of working in breach of visa conditions or working after the expiry of a visa.
• The amendments confirm that workplace protections apply to all workers regardless of any breach of the Migration Act…

NEW EMPLOYER OFFENCES AND BLACKLISTING

• The law introduces new offences for employers. One criminalises employers who coerce migrants to work in breach of their visa conditions…

The government has committed to introduce the robust new visa protections for migrant workers…These include a guaranteed protection against visa cancellation for migrant workers who bring labour claims, and a pilot short term visa to enable migrant workers to pursue labour claims at the end of their stay…