NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner urges action to address modern slavery risks for temporary migrant workers in rural and regional NSW

The first ever report of its kind by the independent NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, Dr James Cockayne, titled ‘Be Our Guests: Addressing urgent modern slavery risks for temporary migrant workers in rural and regional NSW’, has been tabled in the NSW Parliament.

Dr Cockayne said, “The ‘Be Our Guests’ report highlights significant modern slavery risks faced by temporary migrant workers in agriculture, horticulture and meat processing in rural and regional NSW. The modern slavery risks identified include debt bondage, deceptive recruiting, forced labour and, in extreme cases, servitude, sexual servitude and even human trafficking.”

The Anti-slavery Commissioner’s report examines significant vulnerabilities faced by both Pacific workers and backpackers (Working Holiday Makers) with respect to working conditions, wages and entitlements; accommodation, transport and living conditions; gendered violence and healthcare access; and isolation and social marginalisation.

Dr Cockayne said: “Everyone working in, and contributing to, our community deserves fair pay and fair working conditions. While migration programmes are, for the most part, well-managed, the information contained in my report tabled in Parliament shows that there are a minority of workers who are at risk. These workers, who are trapped in exploitative situations, form part of the estimated 16,400 people trapped in modern slavery in NSW.”

“The ‘Be Our Guests’ report also highlights growing indicators that the burden of supporting these exploited migrant workers is falling on local communities and community service providers that are not adequately resourced for this task. There is an urgent need for federal and State governments to work with, and resource, local governments and community service providers to provide crucial services to particularly vulnerable people.”

Sophia Kagan, Principal Policy Adviser on Labour Migration, Office of the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, and report co-author, said “While all workers should be safe in NSW, temporary migrant workers who are women can be particularly vulnerable to modern slavery. Shortcomings in the current schemes have led to an increase in disengaged female PALM workers reporting violence, coercive control, and sexual exploitation. Pregnant women workers may be left without antenatal services. Others face homelessness and the risk of deportation, yet they are often too afraid to seek formal justice.

“Gaps in the social safety net for workers and effective regulation of labour hire companies in NSW, combined with visa restrictions, contribute to risks of modern slavery in rural NSW,” said Ms Kagan.

Moe Turaga, Modern Slavery Survivor Advocate, said: "People like me come to Australia hoping for better job opportunities and a better future for our families, but many are confronted by harsh realities once they arrive. Right now, too many people are being denied their basic rights. We need stronger regulations and support systems to make NSW a truly welcoming place for guest workers.”

Dr Joe McGirr, Chair of the NSW Parliament’s Modern Slavery Committee and Member for Wagga Wagga said:  “I am deeply committed to ensuring that hard-working individuals who contribute so much to our regional economy are protected from exploitation. The findings in this report are a wake-up-call. We must take decisive action to look after temporary migrant workers while they are guests in our communities, making a vital contribution to our agricultural and regional industries.”  

Ken Dachi, Multicultural Affairs Advisor and Program Coordinator at Leeton Shire Council, said “The report sheds light on systemic issues that have long gone unaddressed. To truly protect guest workers, we need more than policy changes, we need resources on the ground that address workers’ social, cultural and linguistic needs. Regional stakeholders must be equipped with the information, tools and training to offer trauma-informed care and ensure coordinated, culturally safe responses to support migrant workers at risk of, or experiencing, modern slavery.”

"The report outlines actionable steps for the NSW Parliament and NSW Government to create a welcoming community and economy, where everyone is free from exploitation and guest workers’ human rights are valued and respected. The time to act is now," said the Anti-slavery Commissioner.

The ‘Be Our Guests’ report includes five recommendations:

1. That the NSW Parliament Modern Slavery Committee urgently initiate a trauma-informed and worker-centred investigation of modern slavery risks faced by PALM and other temporary migrant workers working in agriculture, horticulture and meat processing in rural and regional NSW.
2. That the NSW Government ensures relevant NSW Government frontline agencies undertake suitable training in modern slavery, as envisaged by section 19(3)(a) of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW).
3. That the NSW Government advocates for the Federal Government to review the visa settings and protection requirements for temporary migrant workers in PALM and the WHM Program.
4. That the NSW Government complements the work of the new Migrant Workers Centre to be established in NSW, with regional migrant centre hubs.
5. That the NSW Government ensures funding and support to local actors, including to create a more active role in monitoring of conditions and support to temporary migrant workers.
   
   

Key Facts:

• The NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, Dr James Cockayne, commenced his role in August 2022.
• This ‘Be Our Guests’ report is the first time a NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner has exercised the power provided under section 19(4) of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW) to make a report to the NSW Parliament on any particular issue or general matter.
• The Anti-slavery Commissioner has previously provided Annual Reports, briefings and testimony to the Parliament under other provisions of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW).
• Findings from the ‘Be Our Guests’ report are drawn from two years of consultation, including more than 16 rural and regional visits across NSW. These visits included meetings, interviews and consultations with migrant workers, service providers, law enforcement officials, business, unions, diplomatic representatives, Pacific Island community representatives, subject matter experts, local, state and government actors. The report also benefited from insights gathered from directly supporting survivors of modern slavery under section 9 of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW).
• Recommendations in the report call for a trauma-informed, worker-centred inquiry into the risks of modern slavery in rural and regional NSW; mandated training for frontline agencies; advocacy to the Federal Government to review visa settings; the establishment of migrant centre hubs in regional NSW, and improved information sharing with relevant local stakeholders to better support temporary migrant workers.

Read the full report: Be Our Guests: Addressing urgent modern slavery risks for temporary migrant workers in rural and regional New South Wales