NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner welcomes Parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by temporary migrant workers in rural and regional New South Wales

15 October 2024

The NSW Modern Slavery Committee (NSW Parliament) has approved and commenced implementation of the primary recommendation of the Anti-slavery Commissioner’s recent report, Be Our Guests: Addressing urgent modern slavery risks for temporary migrant workers in regional and rural New South Wales, by announcing a formal inquiry into the issues set out in the Commissioner’s report.

The NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, Dr. James Cockayne, welcomed the announcement, underscoring the urgent need for a trauma-informed and worker-centred investigation of modern slavery risks faced by Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) and other temporary migrant workers working in agriculture, horticulture and meat processing in rural and regional NSW.

“The announcement of this inquiry is a crucial step towards ensuring that all workers in rural and regional NSW are protected from exploitation. Ensuring a detailed investigation of these urgent risks is key to establishing the robust evidence base needed for critical policy and programming responses. I commend the NSW Modern Slavery Committee for taking action on this critical issue, which will have real impact in the lives of temporary migrant workers in NSW,” Dr. Cockayne said.

The inquiry will focus on identifying some of the key structural issues outlined in the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner’s report. The investigation is centred on workers’ experiences, while ensuring adequate opportunities for community support organizations, employers, labour hire organisations, industry experts, trade unions, academics, government and other stakeholders to be suitably heard. The inquiry will assess the adequacy of current protections and develop recommendations for a coordinated, multi-level government response to address and mitigate modern slavery risks.

Sophia Kagan, co-author of the report and Principal Policy Adviser on Labour Migration at the Office of the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, emphasized the need for stronger support for migrant workers. “Temporary migrant workers play an essential role in the economy, yet their precarious visa status often leaves them vulnerable to abuse. Ensuring the inquiry is conducted in a manner which is safe so all participants are encouraged to constructively engage will be crucial to the inquiry’s success. This inquiry is also a positive step toward addressing the systemic issues that have allowed exploitation to persist in rural and regional NSW and how they intersect with Federal regulation.” Ms Kagan said.

The Commissioner’s Be Our Guests report examined 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. The report emphasized that there is a need for stronger protections, co-regulation, and a coordinated approach to safeguard their rights and prevent our valued guest workers fall into modern slavery.

The Modern Slavery Committee is calling for public submissions until January 31, 2025 from a wide range of stakeholders, including community organisations, local governments, employers, workers with lived experiences, unions, businesses and community members.

Additional Information

• Terms of Reference for the Inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by temporary migrant workers in rural and regional New South Wales are available here
• Submissions to the inquiry can be made here until January 31, 2025.
• The Be Our Guests: Addressing urgent modern slavery risks for temporary migrant workers in rural and regional New South Wales was released on September 18, 2024 and included five key recommendations: 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.