This move is only available to employers because temporary migrant workers have no access to the FEG scheme to recover their unpaid entitlements.”In March this year, the Migrant Workers Taskforce headed by former ACCC boss Prof Alan Fels recommended the FEG be extended to cover migrant workers, or an equivalent scheme established to protect them. “Details of timing and the mechanism for consultation on this proposal will be outlined in due course.”Kunkel told the Guardian the Migrant Workers Centre had seen dozens of cases of migrant workers left with nothing by a liquidated company. The Migrant Workers Centre has seen liquidations across industries, but particularly in those where the rates of migrant employees are high, such as hospitality, construction, labour hire, meat processing and waste recycling. Adjunct fellow at Swinburne University’s Centre for Urban Transitions, Peter Mares, said the continued exclusion of temporary migrant workers from the FEG was “unconscionable”. There is no reason why a temporary migrant worker should be treated differently to a citizen or permanent resident.

Source: The Guardian September 29, 2019 18:00 UTC