AS a nation, we are proud to trade on our clean, green, ethical and sustainable reputation. Whether at home or abroad, “Australian-made” is a trusted brand.
However, this reputation is at risk, stained by an underbelly of undocumented agriculture and horticulture workers.
It has been estimated that there are between 60,000 and 100,000 people working in agriculture illegally. For many of these people, their only crime is overstaying their welcome on a student or working holidaymaker visa. In many cases, they have become trapped in circumstances not of their own choosing.
Many of these people have been in Australia for a decade or more. They are productive and reliable, and they contribute to their communities – including Sunraysia.
The only option for these people is to remain invisible. They can’t seek medical help and they can’t access government support. Though encouraged, there are many who will not come forward for a COVID-19 vaccination. This poses a risk to the broader community.
The pandemic provides a unique opportunity to resolve the status of these undocumented workers. We need to regularise these people, bring them out of the shadows and prevent exploitation and wage theft.
At the moment, unscrupulous contractors exploit undocumented workers, leading to lower input costs, while the vast majority of employers do the right thing and pay fair wages. This has led to a market that incentivises producers to break the law.
Regularising the status of these workers will give them freedom to choose an employer that will treat them fairly. Lawless contractors will be forced to either pay fair wages or go out of business.
I’ve proposed a period during which undocumented workers can come forward and register for a temporary visa with work rights. To not act on this issue is to turn a blind eye to those employers doing the wrong thing. A policy of detection and deportation has not been successful.
My call is backed by the new Learning to Excel report, which has recommended the Federal Government introduce a one-off status resolution for undocumented workers. It’s the right thing to do for all involved, and the time to do it is now.
