The government of New South Wales has officially opened the state’s first dedicated Migrant Workers Centre in Sydney, aiming to support temporary visa holders facing workplace exploitation, underpayment, unsafe conditions, and immigration-related concerns.
The new centre, located in Sydney’s central business district, is backed by 6.5 million Australian dollars in government funding over the next four years. The initiative is designed to provide workplace advice, legal guidance, safety support, and immigration assistance to vulnerable migrant workers across the state.
The launch comes amid growing concern about the treatment of migrant workers in Australia, particularly temporary visa holders who often fear losing their jobs or visas if they report exploitation by employers.
One migrant worker who shared his experience during the launch was Samuel Zuluaga, who moved from Colombia to Sydney at the age of 23 after receiving a sponsorship opportunity from a barber shop.
Zuluaga said that while he initially felt fortunate to secure a temporary work visa, problems gradually emerged. According to him, his employer stopped paying his superannuation contributions, but he was unsure how to respond because he did not fully understand the Australian system at the time.
He explained that he remained silent out of fear that speaking up could affect his visa status and future in Australia. Matters worsened when he questioned being asked to clean toilets, something he believed was outside his job responsibilities.
According to Zuluaga, his employer immediately fired him and terminated his visa sponsorship. He also claimed he was denied payment for unused annual leave because he avoided taking time off due to fear of upsetting his employer.
With support from unions and community services, Zuluaga was eventually able to recover the money he was owed. He said the assistance helped him realise he was not alone and encouraged him to speak openly about migrant worker exploitation.
A recent report released by the Migrant Justice Institute highlighted the scale of exploitation faced by temporary visa holders in Australia. The report found that nearly two-thirds of migrant workers on temporary visas were underpaid.
International students alone were estimated to be losing more than 60 million Australian dollars in wages every week due to wage theft and unfair employment practices. The report also found that more than one-third of migrant workers were employed under contractor or Australian Business Number (ABN) arrangements, which can leave workers with fewer protections.
Mark Morey said migrant workers play a critical role in Australia’s economy and workforce. He noted that industries such as farming, hospitality, retail, and construction rely heavily on migrant labour because of ongoing worker shortages.
“Our economy depends on them,” Morey said, adding that Australia has been built on migration and continues to rely on migrant workers to fill labour gaps across different sectors.
The new Migrant Workers Centre is expected to support around 2,000 at-risk workers every year through culturally sensitive and community-focused services. Outreach centres are also planned for regional areas of New South Wales to ensure migrant workers living outside major cities can access support.
Chris Minns said the centre was created to ensure migrant workers understand their legal rights and have somewhere safe to seek help if they experience exploitation or unfair treatment at work.
“We want every migrant worker to know that if you are feeling pressured at work, if you’ve been forced to work for less than a minimum wage, if something doesn’t feel right, then you can come to the migrant worker centre,” Minns said.
The initiative has also been welcomed by multicultural community leaders. Ubah Gabris said many migrants do not fully understand their workplace rights when they first arrive in Australia.
Gabris explained that the new centre gives migrants a trusted space where they can speak openly about their experiences and receive legal advice and support without fear.
The opening of the Migrant Workers Centre reflects growing efforts in Australia to address workplace exploitation among migrant communities, especially as concerns continue to rise about wage theft, unsafe conditions, and abuse of temporary visa holders in several industries across the country.