Professor Tomoya Obokata - United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery -completed his official visit to Australia in November 2024 with the release of a press release and preliminary findings revealing widespread exploitation of migrant workers across sectors in the country, including instances of employers taking advantage of workers' immigration status to subject them to exploitative and illegal working conditions. Some of the worst forms of labour abuse include deceptive recruitment, various forms of wage theft, dangerous working conditions and discrimination, including dismissal of pregnant workers.

The Special Rapporteur's visit focused particularly on the welfare of workers recruited and employed under temporary labour migration schemes including the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, Domestic Workers (diplomatic or consular) stream, and those on the Temporary Skill Shortage, Working Holiday and Student visas.