Wage theft crackdown: Government warns employers

The Coalition Government has issued its strongest warning yet to employers exploiting migrant workers, saying short-changing staff will not be tolerated.

More than 270 complaints have been lodged since 2021.

Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations Agni Deo Singh told Parliament the Government is shifting from a reactive approach to a stronger national protection system.

“The Coalition Government’s commitment to protecting migrant workers is absolute and non-negotiable,” he said.

Mr Singh said all employment laws, including the Employment Relations Act 2007 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1996, apply equally to migrant and local workers.

He said the ministry has recovered $118,426.40 in unpaid wages for migrant workers, and more than $6 million for local workers over the past five years.

“We are sending an unequivocal message to all employers: comply with our laws and uphold the dignity of every worker, or face the full coordinated force of the law,” he said.

Reforms underway include strengthening labour law, improving oversight of foreign worker contracts, and finalising a National Labour Mobility Policy developed with the International Organization for Migration.

Mr Singh also confirmed that withholding a worker’s passport is illegal, following concerns raised by MPs.

“All workers are covered under workers’ compensation,” he said.