Image: Photo by Eric Ward on Unsplash
A new survey by Unions NSW has revealed alarming levels of sexual harassment faced by migrant women workers across various industries in Australia.
Titled “DISRESPECTED, DISREGARDED, AND DISCARDED: Workplace Exploitation, Sexual Harassment, and the Experience of Migrant Women on Temporary Visas,” the survey adds to a growing body of research documenting the widespread exploitation of temporary migrants in the country.
The survey findings reveal that 51% of respondents have experienced sexual harassment on the job. The highest rate was reported in the construction industry, where more than four in five (82%) workers experienced harassment, followed by 53% in horticulture, 51% in hospitality, 50% in retail, and 42% in cleaning.
Despite being a priority on the National Research Agenda, Unions NSW has highlighted a significant gap in comprehensive data on the experiences of migrant women on temporary visas.
Sexual Harassment Among Migrant Women on Temporary Visas
Migrant women represent a large segment of the workforce in industries known for wage theft and insecure working conditions, leaving them particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment.
However, many are reluctant to report such incidents.
The survey analyses over 3000 survey responses and more than 80 interviews.
Their research aims to “expose the prevalence of workplace sexual harassment among women on temporary visas and provide evidence for developing effective strategies to address their needs.”
Common Types of Sexual Harassment
The survey found that migrant women in the workforce faced various forms of sexual harassment, with the most common incidents including sexually suggestive comments or jokes (52%), intrusive questions about their private life or appearance (42%), and repeated or unwelcome invitations to go out on dates (28%).
Other forms of harassment included unwelcome touching, hugging, or kissing (23%), inappropriate staring or leering that caused intimidation (24%), and inappropriate physical contact (20%).
Kate*, a migrant worker who arrived in Australia in 2021 and has worked in the hospitality industry for nearly two years, shared with Unions NSW the psychological toll of working in a male-dominated environment due to the sexual harassment she has experienced.
She recalled the first instance of sexual harassment where the head chef forced her to kiss him in a cold room. In a small restaurant where the chef and owner were close friends, Kate felt powerless and feared that the business owner wouldn’t support her, so she chose to leave before the situation escalated.
Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey condemned the findings, stating, ““Migrants come to Australia to seek opportunity but are instead confronted by horrific workplace exploitation.”
“Migrant women are facing sexually suggestive comments, intrusive questions, unwelcome touching and inappropriate physical contact. This is reprehensible. It has to stop,” Morey said.
Unions NSW Calls for Greater Protections for Migrant Women
Unions NSW is urging for stronger protections for migrant women in the workforce, advocating for several key reforms:
- Establish migrant worker centres to support women with legal support and encourage them to report harassment
- Education and training to address cultural misunderstandings and raise awareness of behaviours that constitute sexual harassment
- Remove visa conditions that make workers vulnerable, including the 88-day farm work requirement
- Fund better employment pathways and training programs
- Regular assessment of the Workplace Justice visa and Strengthening Reporting Protections pilot to ensure they are effectively assisting in reducing the power imbalance that exists between migrant women and perpetrators
“The findings have revealed an unacceptable reality for migrant women who work in some of Australia’s most essential yet vulnerable industries,” Morey said.
“They are enduring sexual harassment in silence, feeling pressured to choose between their dignity and their livelihoods. Unions NSW is pushing the government to take urgent steps to implement policy changes that ensure safety, respect and fair treatment for every worker, regardless of their visa status,” he added.
*Name changed for privacy reasons
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